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If you're fed up watching your mailbox and bank account, waiting for your federal stimulus check from the IRS to arrive, it's time to turn to the online Get My Payment tracker app, which can show you how much money you're eligible for, details on your payment schedule and anything holding up your payment.
If you're convinced your stimulus check has gone missing, you can also contact the IRS to report your absent payment, but we strongly encourage you to try this method first. Even if you've used the IRS tool before, we recommend checking one more time in case the information has changed. You could also look into another useful tool that can track your check all the way to your mailbox.
The Get My Payment tool can tell you if the IRS is processing your check, or if your payment is already scheduled for the next batch of distribution. You'll also see how your stimulus payment will arrive (as a paper check, prepaid debit card or through direct deposit to your bank account), and whether there are any problems that may be holding up your payment.
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 get an error message. For more information about stimulus checks, these are the latest details about a second round of stimulus checks, how much money you might get and who may and may not qualify for a payment. We update this story often.
What to know before you use the Get My Payment tool
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 IRS 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.
Is my status information accurate? What if I get 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.