Hope you are not among the few who are yet to receive their $1,400 stimulus check. But even if you are, there are ways you can track down and retrieve your stimulus check. And double-check to ensure that you get the right amount.
With stimulus checks going out every week starting the second week of March this year, the payments have crossed the 166 million with 1.8 million payments being sent out just last week. And if you are yet to get yours, perhaps it is time you stopped checking your mailbox or your bank account and use the IRS tracking tool to get the latest status of your stimulus check.
Reasons You May Miss Out On A Stimulus Check
Your check may be delayed for any number of reasons, starting from the wrong address or bank details with the IRS, to an error in the calculation that renders you not eligible for a stimulus check. Your check might also go missing on the way or you may be denied a check because you did not get your facts right.
Calling up the IRS won’t help you for your third stimulus check. And if you have missed out on your first or your third stimulus check, you can file a Recovery Rebate Credit along with your tax returns for 2020. As you have missed the extended deadline for filing your 2020 income tax return, you have to file for a tax extension.
Use The Get My Payment Tool To Track Your Stimulus Check
If you need to track your stimulus check, the IRS Get My Payment tool will set you in the right direction. This online portal will give only bits of information, the date your stimulus check was dispatched, and the mode of payment. If you feel that you need to act based on the information in the tracker, you can file a payment trace to finally get your stimulus check.
The IRS tracker gives one of the three following messages.
Interpreting The Various Messages In The Get My Payment Tracker
The Payment Status confirms that your stimulus check is on schedule and will be sent on the date through either direct deposit or the postal service. It could also mean that your payment is yet to be processed though you are eligible.
Payment Status Not Available could mean either that your payment has not been processed yet or that the IRS feels that you are not eligible for a stimulus check. Please note that the IRS has updated the tracker based on the information that you have supplied. An update, such as filing the latest tax returns, could change your status.
The Need More Information message indicates that your stimulus check payment was processed but the IRS doesn’t have the account information. It could also mean that your stimulus check was returned because the postal service could not trace the address given on record.
If you get the Need More Information message, you can opt to have your stimulus check reissued as a direct deposit. This option is only available if you do not have any account information with the IRS. You cannot update existing information.
Check If Your Stimulus Check Has Been Garnished By Private Debt Collectors
Your third stimulus check can only be garnished by private debt collectors. If you feel that there is a chance of this happening, you can call your bank for confirmation of any such request from private creditors. Get details of the time you have in hand to file an appeal with a court to stop any such garnishment.
Reason Your Stimulus Check Could Be Delayed
Your check could be delayed for various reasons. A calculation error could delay your check.
A common reason for the delay is the postal service. Your stimulus check could be stuck in the mail and you can use the free tool of the US postal service to track it.
If the IRS sent a direct deposit to a closed or temporary bank or financial account, it naturally will be returned. You might even have not updated your latest mailing address.
There are also several reasons for a lesser amount in your check. The IRS might have based your initial calculation on the 2019 tax returns. If you have filed a fresh return for 2020, you can expect a plus-up payment. The IRS has sent more than $9 billion as plus-up payments.
Notice 1444-C Sent By The IRS
A letter is sent by the IRS around 15 days after a payment is sent. If you receive the letter but are yet to get your payment, you need to follow up with a trace.
The letter is important and the only official record that a stimulus check was sent. It also contains details of the amount sent and the mode of payment.
You need to preserve the letter as it would be needed for future reference if you do not receive your stimulus check or get the wrong amount.
Taxpayers who haven’t received the notice or have misplaced it can view the details of their stimulus check on their account online.
Details In Your Online Account
This online system helps you to securely access your account details. With this, you can view the amount you owe, your balance details by year, your payment history, key information of your latest returns, and finally details of your stimulus check.
Filing A Payment Trace
If you have not received your stimulus check within the stipulated period as indicated by the Get My Payment tracker, you should file a payment trace.
You first need to ascertain when to file for a trace. You should be getting a direct deposit within 5days, a paper check sent to a standard address within 4 weeks, a stimulus check sent to any forwarded address within 6 weeks, and an offshore mail within 9 weeks.
So if you have crossed the timeframe as mentioned above, you will need to file for a trace.
For a trace, you can either call a number or send the Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund (Form 3911).
There are some important bits of instructions for the completion of Form 3911. You need to write ‘EIP3’ on the form. Enter ‘Individual’ under Type Of Return in Section 1 of item 7. The Tax Period should be ‘2021’. The Date Filed section should be left blank.
If you are married and are filing jointly, you both need to sign on the form. You do not have to send Form 3911 if you have telephonically requested a trace.
The IRS Response
To process your request for tracing a missing check, the IRS will issue another check, if you have not cashed the original. You are expected to return the original if you receive it.
If the check has been cashed, a claim package from the Bureau of Fiscal Service will come in. the bureau will issue a duplicate check only after reviewing your claim to guard against fraud.
The IRS takes around 6 weeks to respond after you file a payment trace.
