Third stimulus check: 2 ways to track your paper payment by US mail for free

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Stimulus check or junk mail? Know what to look for so you don’t toss your new payment in the trash.


Angela Lang/CNET

Third stimulus checks are on the move: More than 150,000 paper checks for up to $1,400 forqualified individuals have gone out in the mail, the IRS said last Wednesday. More payments are expected to come through the postal service in the next weeks by physical check or EIP debit card, rather than a direct deposit. So when will your third payment arrive?

The IRS and US Postal Service each have services that, when used together, let you track your stimulus payment directly to your mailbox. The IRS stimulus check tracker tool contains information about your payment schedule, when your money will arrive and how, and if there’s been an error processing your payment. A downside is that it doesn’t give you an exact date, however, for when to expect your funds to arrive at your doorstep.

That’s where a free USPS service comes in. We’ll walk you through how you can use the USPS service to monitor your payment’s arrival in the mail. (And here’s what we know so far about a fourth stimulus check.) This story was recently updated.

How the USPS Informed Delivery service can work for you

Informed Delivery is a free mail-tracking service from the USPS that automatically scans your letters and can alert you with an image each time a letter with your name on it is about to be delivered — this includes, of course, your third stimulus payment. 

When the USPS runs mailed letters through its automated mail sorting equipment, it automatically creates a digital image of the front of all letter-size mail. Anyone who signs up for Informed Delivery can access the information by asking the USPS to notify you when each piece of mail with your name on it is on the way. Note that it can take three days to activate your account.

As part of the program, you’ll receive an email each morning, Monday through Saturday, to notify you of any mail being delivered to you. You’ll also see a grayscale image of the front of the letter. Informed Delivery has free apps for Android and iPhone you can also use. 

Just be aware that signing up means you’ll see all your mail scanned by the post office, not just your stimulus check. You can cancel the service at any time. 


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4 easy steps to sign up for Informed Delivery and track your stimulus check all the way to your mailbox

Informed Delivery has some limitations. For example, it will work with many residential and personal post office box addresses but not businesses. It also won’t work for some residential buildings where the postal service hasn’t yet identified each unit. 

To check whether Informed Delivery is available in your area, head to the Postal Service’s Informed Delivery page.

1. Tap Sign Up for Free.

2. Enter your mailing address and confirm it’ll work with the service; then accept the terms and conditions and tap Continue

3. On the next page, choose your username, password and security questions. Then, enter your contact information and tap Continue.

4. On the next page, you’ll need to verify your identity. Tap Verify identity online if you want to receive a verification code on your phone or tap Request invitation code by mail if you want USPS to mail you a code. You may also have the option to visit a post office to verify your identity in person.

For more details, here’s how to calculate how much you’ll get, everything you need to know about the third stimulus check and when you can expect your payment to arrive in your bank account. Here are three ways the stimulus bill can bring you more money, and all the tax breaks you could receive.

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source: cnet.com