The first coronavirus checks are going out this week.
Angela Lang/CNET
The federal government is several days into the process of depositing the first stimulus checks of up to $1,200 into the bank accounts of eligible US residents, beginning with people who have direct deposit set up with the IRS. If you’re eligible, you can track the status of your economic impact payment check at any time through an online portal on the IRS website called Get My Payment. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to use the online tracking tool.
Millions of people qualify for the coronavirus payment, so when you receive the money could take time. These one-time stimulus payments are part of a $2 trillion 2020 coronavirus relief package intended to help you pay your expenses and spur the flagging economy, as people lose their jobs and businesses shutter as a result of the pandemic.
It isn’t clear without calculation how much you’re entitled to receive. Your final allowance depends on a line in your tax form from either your 2018 or 2019 taxes. You can follow our guidelines or use a calculator to find out, but a little legwork is unavoidable.
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If you haven’t submitted your taxes yet, didn’t sign up for direct deposit and need a refund soon, here are reasons you might want to file taxes this week, despite an automatic tax extension to July.
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How to track the status of your stimulus check from the IRS
If you’re eligible for a payment, the IRS lets you track your money through its Get My Payment web portal. Due to high demand, you may see a message that you have to wait before you can access the site.
1. Head to the IRS’ Get My Payment page and tap the blue Get My Payment button to check the status of your economic impact payment.
2. On the next page about authorized use, tap OK.
3. Now on the Get My Payment page, enter your social security number (SSN) or individual tax ID (ITIN), your date or birth, your street address and your ZIP or postal code. Tap Continue.
On the next page, the portal will show your payment status, whether it’s been scheduled or if the service can’t yet determine your status. If you’ve not set up direct deposit with the IRS, the service may walk you through those steps to get your check sent straight to your bank account. Here’s how to set up direct deposit.
How do I know that my status information is accurate and what if I get an error message?
The IRS updates its information on who has and hasn’t received their payment once a day. If you see a confusing message while using the status tool, the IRS explains common status messages (you may get a message if it’s impossible to determine your eligibility, for example).
You don’t need to sign up to receive stimulus money
To receive the stimulus payment, you may need to file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 if you are normally required to. You can still do that now. Here’s how.
Senior citizens, Social Security recipients, railroad retirees and other beneficiaries who typically are not required to file tax returns will not need to file one to receive a payment.
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The agency will mail a letter to a taxpayer’s last known address within 15 days after sending the payment. The letter will contain information on when the payment was made and how to report to the IRS if you didn’t receive your check.
In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about the new federal tax filing extension. For more on the stimulus checks, here’s how best to use your stimulus check and how to avoid being scammed. Here’s everything you need to know about coronavirus and unemployment.
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