First stimulus check still missing? Track when it’s coming with this handy IRS tool

If you think that the letter containing your first stimulus check or prepaid debit card was lost or stolen from the mail, there’s a a handy USPS service that will help you track it down. You can also consult the IRS’ free Get My Payment app to learn the status of your stimulus check instead of contacting the federal agency while the glut of tax returns and refunds are being processed.

Get My Payment will track your payment status and delivery schedule, and show you the monetary amount that you qualified for under the CARES Act. The app will also identify any problems that might have delayed your payment.

Even if you’ve previously used Get My Payment to try to find your absent stimulus money, you should try it again before you contact the IRS directly, just in case the information has changed.

Read on for what to expect and the type of information you should have on hand before you start using the portal, including what happens if you receive an error message. Here are the latest details about a second stimulus check, how much money you might get and who may or may not qualify for a payment. We update this story often.

Using the Get My Payment tool: What to know

• You’ll need to input your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) along with your date of birth, street address and postal code.
• The IRS is sending payments on a schedule. Think of it as batches of payments that get sent at once, rather than individually. The Get My Payment tool can ballpark your scheduled date.
• The IRS updates its status tracking information once a day. 
• The tool may require you to enter your details in a specific way.
• You should receive a letter about 15 days after the IRS issues your payment, with information on the amount you received and how you received it.

After using the IRS tracker, you could also sign up for a free service from the post office that tells you exactly when your stimulus check will arrive in the mail.

How to track the status and arrival of your stimulus check

If you’re eligible for a check, the IRS lets you track 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.

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 SSN or 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.

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

Now playing:
Watch this:

Haven’t received your stimulus check yet? Let’s track…

1:33

How to deal with an error message

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. Here are some initial reasons why Get My Payment may not be able to track your payment status, though the IRS has since said it’s improved its tool. In some cases, you may prefer to contact the IRS.

Find out if your check is in the mail

The IRS deadline to set up direct deposit with the government passed on May 13. If you didn’t set up your account, you’ll most likely get your check in the mail.

While most people will receive a paper check, the Treasury Department said 4 million people will get an Economic Impact Payment, or EIP, prepaid debit card instead (and as of the first week of June, it said these payments have been made). We’ve asked the US Treasury to clarify who gets a check and who gets a debit card.

Try this handy USPS mail-tracking service

If you’re waiting for your stimulus payment to arrive in the mail — either as a paper check or a prepaid debit card — the US Postal Service has a free app that can notify you when it’s about to deliver your letter from the IRS. Called Informed Delivery, the mail-tracking service automatically scans your letters and can alert you when they’ll be delivered. Here’s more on how to set up and use the letter-tracking service from the USPS to track your payment.

How to know when you stimulus check is really coming

There’s the method above, but also keep an eye out for an official letter that the IRS will mail 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 information, here’s everything to know about a second stimulus check, including when the next IRS checks could potentially get sent and who might qualify for more money.