Stimulus vote Friday morning? What that means for the $1,400 check timeline

The first major vote on the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package is set to take place Friday morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday in her weekly press conference. The bill is expected to pass along party lines, using an unusual political maneuver. The vote milestone in making the $1,400 stimulus check a reality, and in setting the timeline of its arrival. If Biden signs the bill into law by March 14, it will cement one possible course for delivering the third stimulus check. Any delay could push back the already complex delivery process by days or weeks. 

Tax season 2020 could complicate the size of your check and when you get it all. And, because the IRS uses de-facto payment groups, not everyone will get their money at once. In addition, some people, like SSDI and SSI recipients, could receive their payment a different way. Any delivery, calculation or processing problem could mean you’re waiting months for your stimulus money. (By the way, here’s every important difference between the $1,400, $600 and $1,200 checks.)

We share the latest information about the third stimulus check priority payment groups, some possible dates you could expect the IRS to deliver the first wave of each group, and the IRS deadline. For more details, here’s how the “targeted” third check could change the fine print and every way you could get more money, less money or no new check at all. Here’s a guide on all the money you could get for child care and older adults. This story was recently updated.

Will the IRS send stimulus checks in waves? That’s likely

The IRS organized the first two stimulus checks according to payment groups, with direct deposit recipients the first in line, followed by people receiving physical checks and then EIP cards. Using the timeline from the second payment, we can take an educated guess as to when the IRS could start sending the first checks for each group.

We also know that Democrats, who hold the majority in Congress, have a goalpost of March 14 to pass the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill — this is the date federal unemployment insurance for $300 a week expires. We also factor in what happens if the timeline slips a week. For example, if the bill passes the House and the Senate makes substantial changes, it would go back to the House for a vote.

Complicating matters, the IRS is also dealing with tax returns at the same — more on that below. Keep in mind, it could take weeks for the IRS to process every group’s funds, so consider the possible dates below as just a starting point. We refresh this timeline as the situation evolves.

When could the next stimulus check possibly arrive?

Stimulus check passes Congress	Friday, March 12	Monday, March 22
Stimulus bill signed into law	Sunday, March 14	Tuesday, March 23
First direct deposit check sent	Week of March 22	Week of March 29
First paper checks sent	Week of March 29	Week of April 5
First EIP cards sent	Week of April 5	Week of April 12
IRS deadline to finish sending checks	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021
Claims for missing stimulus money open	May 3	May 3

Why could your stimulus payment group change?

When you get your stimulus money would likely depend on how you get it. That was largely true with the first two checks (there are always some exceptions) and is expected to play out similarly the third time around. Direct-deposit recipients typically get their stimulus money faster, as evidenced by how the government handled the first two rounds of payments in March and December. But both times there were issues involving deposits going to temporary accounts that were rejected by banks.

The IRS told CNET in January that some people who received a physical check or EIP card the first time may get paid by the other method the second time around. And, anecdotally, we’ve heard of people who received direct deposit payments the first time finally getting an EIP card in the mail — and not an electronic bank transfer — weeks after the IRS tool said the payment was issued. 

While you won’t have the final say in how you get your payment, we recommend signing up for direct deposit with the IRS when you submit your 2020 tax return, if you ordinarily file taxes. If you already have an account, make sure your details are correct. We also suggest you try to file your taxes quickly. While you can file an extension to submit your taxes later (you’d still have to pay taxes owed now,) whether that will help or hurt you may get a little complicated.

The other payment groups loosely defined (by us) include Social Security beneficiaries who received payments a different way the first time if they’re part of the SSI or SSDI programs, and people with more complex scenarios that could lead to potential issues or holdups receiving their money. People in different child support situations are one example we’ve seen, as are people who are incarcerated and people with complex citizenship scenarios.

We might know the IRS deadline for sending new stimulus checks

The Jan. 15 deadline for the second stimulus check approved in December was written into the text of the bill without explanation. Anyone who didn’t receive all or part of their second payment must claim it as part of the IRS’ Recovery Rebate Credit on their tax return to get the funds owed — even if they have non-filer status and aren’t typically required to file taxes.

The latest proposal (PDF) would give the IRS a Dec. 31, 2021 cutoff to complete sending out the third stimulus checks. 

Tax season adds a layer to stimulus checks

Since a third stimulus check is likely to drop in the middle of tax season (taxes are due April 15), the IRS may have to calculate your total based on the most recent tax filing it has. That would be your 2020 taxes if you file early, or 2019 taxes if the check is ready before your tax return is. This could also disqualify some people from getting a third stimulus payment. (Learn more about some of the stimulus check exceptions and catches here.)

If you’re owed money, you might have to wait a year to claim it, until you file your 2021 taxes in 2022, according to the latest proposal (PDF) under consideration. Filing for a tax extension could also change your timeline in a way that could be different if the IRS were to extend the tax due date itself.

By mid-March, tens of millions of Americans may have already received their tax refunds, which could make it tricky for the IRS to straighten out problems or redact refunds after issuing. 

How could you get your stimulus check faster?

There may be a few things you can do to help speed up receipt of a third payment, assuming the stimulus bill is approved. For example, signing up for direct deposit with your 2020 tax return would put you in the priority category for a third stimulus payment. 

If you’ve moved recently, tell the IRS and USPS. Here are our other suggestions for how people can make it more likely they’ll get their checks faster. Note that there could be some changes to qualifications that may not apply to a possible third stimulus check.

More stimulus check details to know if you’re in these groups

Stimulus checks aren’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all situation. Here are our guides for:

Here’s everything you need to know about stimulus checks, including what to do if you ran into problems with either of the first two payments.