Track your stimulus check delivery status now: How to use the IRS’ Get My Payment tool

If you’ve tried to use the IRS tracking portal but couldn’t see the status of your stimulus payment schedule, there’s good news. The IRS has adjusted its Get My Payment app to make it easier for you to set up and track the arrival of your 2020 coronavirus relief payment of up to $1,200. CNET readers report that the IRS tracker website is still not perfect, but it’s now working better. 

The tracking tool is designed to help you set up direct deposit if you haven’t yet (see more directly below). It can also tell you if you can expect a check and if it’s been sent. We’ll get into all the details, so read on for more information about how it works.

A few quick, important notes before we dive in:

Read more: Where to buy face masks online if you don’t want to make your own

How to track the status and arrival of your stimulus check from the IRS 

If you’re eligible for a check, the IRS lets you track your your payment schedule through its Get My Payment web portal. Some people have reported having trouble using the portal, and the IRS said it has significantly improved the Get My Payment app to help you set up and track the date of your stimulus payment.

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For those who are adding electronic transfer details, the IRS said if you enter your bank information in Get My Payment before 9 a.m. PT on a Tuesday, you can see your payment date the following Saturday in Get My Payment.

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 Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), your date of 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 haven’t 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.

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How do I know if my check is in the mail?

In April, the IRS began transferring the first stimulus payments to the accounts of tens of millions of US residents who’ve set up direct deposit with the government. But not everyone gets an electronic transfer.

It may till through June for all the checks to go out, however, and the Get My Payment app can tell you when your payment will be issued and how. The IRS will also mail you letter about 15 days after it issues your payment, with information on the amount you received and how you received it.

How do I know that my status information is accurate and what if I get an error message?

Unfortunately, you may see confusing messages when using the status tool — so much so that the IRS explains common status messages in an FAQ. You may get a message if it’s impossible to determine your eligibility, for example, or your payment status is not available. We’re looking into it, but so far we’ve unearthed a handful of reasons why Get My Payment may not be able to track your payment status. 

The IRS once a day updates its status tracking information on who has and hasn’t received a payment. 

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 aren’t required to file tax returns will not need to file one to receive a payment.

Again, 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 and how the payment was made and how to report to the IRS if you didn’t receive your check. 

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 the coronavirus and unemployment.