As the senate already agreed on releasing a second stimulus check as a part of the HEALS Act on Monday, July 27, eligible individuals can expect another $1,200 direct payments soon. But what if you have not yet received the first one?
In April, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and IRS launched the "Get My Payment" app to allow eligible taxpayers who did not provide their banking information to submit bank details where the stimulus payment will be sent. This app will also allow them to track the status of their payment on their computer, tablet, or smartphone by downloading it from an app store.
However, if your app does not show the status of your stimulus payment, here are some actions you may take to find out about the "missing money."
1. Make sure you are eligible for the stimulus payment
The stimulus check is part of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, in which the federal government will issue payments to qualified Americans to help them cover basic necessities during the coronavirus pandemic. Individuals who filed taxes and have the following gross income are eligible to receive the check:
- $75,000 and below for single and married who filed separate taxes.
- $112,500 and below for head of household
- $150,000 for a married couple who filed a joint tax return
These individuals will receive up to $1,200 for individuals or $2,400 for married couples with up to $500 for each qualified child.
2. Check the status of your stimulus check
Once certain you are eligible to receive the stimulus check, visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website to track the payment. Enter your date of birth, Social Security number, or Individual Tax ID Number, street address, and zip code. For mailed payment, you can sign up for Informed Delivery by USPS, so you will be notified when the payment will be delivered.
If you see "Need more information" on the portal, the IRS may still need your banking details. However, if you see this status now after seeing a payment date, the money may have been returned to the IRS. Enter the complete details of your bank account, so the payment will be directly deposited instead.
Read Also: [UPDATE] Second Stimulus Check: Everything You Need To Know and When it is Most Likely to Arrive
3. Check any debit card received
The IRS may have sent the payments via debit card. These individuals are categorized in the IRS portal as "Money Network Cardholder Services." However, many people have mistakenly thrown their cards. While they can request a replacement by calling the MetaBank® Customer Service at (800) 240-8100 (option 2), they will be charged for a $7.50 replacement card fee.
4. Receiving account was closed
It is possible that stimulus payment was sent back to the IRS because your account is now closed or to a temporary prepaid debit card a tax preparer set up for you. In this case, the agency will instead mail a check to your current address on file.
5. Call the IRS to report your late stimulus check
If the portal shows IRS already made payment weeks ago or you received a confirmation letter from the IRS, but you did not get the money, then it is time to call the IRS.
Take note that you will receive a letter from the IRS within 15 days after sending out the payment. At the bottom of the letter is the IRS hotline that you can dial to follow up on your stimulus check. Make sure to have your personal information handy. The customer service representative may ask for Social Security numbers, filing status, the prior year's tax return, and details of IRS letters received.
Read Also: Your COVID-19 Stimulus Check Could Be Stolen From You; But There's A Tracker To Prevent That
