How To Find Out If Your Getting A Stimulus Check

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How to Find Out When You're Getting Your Stimulus Check

As it prepares to send or deposit the first round of stimulus checks, the IRS has released a 'Get My Payment' tool, where you can check the status of your money. Here's how to use it.

The Internal Revenue Service is starting to deposit stimulus checks directly into people's bank accounts; it'll send money to over 80 million Americans in the first round. But if you're still waiting, you can check the status of your payment on a new IRS website.

The "Get My Payment" tool went live on Wednesday, ahead of a scheduled April 17 launch. It'll tell you when a direct deposit has been scheduled or show the status for paper checks sent through the mail. But if you want to expedite the process, you can use Get My Payment to register yourself for direct deposit. Here's how the new tool works:

Step 1: The start process

On IRS.gov, click on the Get My Payment button, which should be at the top of the site.

Step 2: Making sure you're applicable

The site will then remind you the tool will only work if you filed a tax return for 2019 or 2018. If so, click Get My Payment.

Those who were exempt from filing a return will need to use a separate IRS-created tool dedicated to "non-filers," which involves a longer process. You'll need to set up an account, and supply a valid Social Security number and birth date so the IRS can confirm your identity. (More information on your eligibility for a stimulus check can be found here.)

Step 3: You may need to wait a sec...

After you click the "Get My Payment" button, you'll probably see this screen. Due to high traffic, the tool may take a while to load. Twitter users have reported the site crashing. For us, we only had to wait about 10 to 20 seconds before our computer browser showed us this next screen.

Step 4: You're almost there

Before you gain access to the tool, the IRS show this message, alerting you that everything you do on the site is monitored. "There is no right to privacy in this system. Unauthorized use of this system is prohibited and subject to criminal and civil penalties," the page adds.

Step 5: Type in your personal info

Get ready to hand over your Social Security number, date of birth, and street address information, along with ZIP code. Make sure the address is the same one you used on your tax return.

Step 6: Your payment status revealed

If all goes smoothly, the next page should show your payment status. In our case, the stimulus check was already sent out and confirmed by our bank.

For people still waiting, the IRS says your payment status will be updated once a day, usually overnight. "The IRS urges taxpayers to only use Get My Payment once a day given the large number of people receiving Economic Impact Payments," the agency adds.

If you did not opt into direct deposit with your last tax return, the tool gives you the option to expedite the payment by supplying your bank account information. However, you'll have to confirm your identity as well by providing the IRS the tax refund or amount you owed in your last return. The adjusted gross income on your 2019 or 2018 tax return must also be supplied. "To help protect against potential fraud, the tool also does not allow people to change bank account information already on file with the IRS," the agency adds.

Potential problems

Screenshot taken from Twitter user @EchoesFromAbove

Unfortunately, not everyone is having success using the tool. In some cases, it'll tell you the payment status is unavailable, according to users on Twitters. The IRS says this "Payment Status Not Available" result may be because you filed your tax return quite recently, but that does not appear to be the case for some.

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"Nope. Filed and paid 2018. Married couple under $150k. Yet getting the same 'Payment Status Not Available' as everyone else," one person wrote on Twitter. "Pure BS explanation since I know I'm eligible and the IRS completed processing my 2018 taxes," said another.

Others had trouble providing direct deposit information. And PNC Bank reported overloaded systems as customers logged on to see if payments had hit their accounts.

The tool also doesn't work for Social Security recipients. "If you are a SSA or RRB Form 1099 recipient, SSI or VA benefit recipient — the IRS is working with your agency to issue your payment; your information is not available in this app yet," the agency added.

In the meantime, the IRS is warning the public to be on guard against fraudsters trying to exploit the stimulus checks for no good.

"People should watch out for scams using email, phone calls or texts related to the payments," the agency said in a separate press release. "Be careful and cautious: The IRS will not send unsolicited electronic communications asking people to open attachments, visit a website or share personal or financial information. Remember, go directly and solely to IRS.gov for official information."

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