
Coronavirus stimulus checks – which are designed to help jump start an economy adversely impacted by COVID-19 – started arriving this week. You can find a link below to find out the status of your stimulus check. People have a lot of questions, and the information below will give some insight into answers for some of those questions:
The IRS launched a tool this week that will allow people to track their payments, much like the existing tool that lets people follow the status of their returns – and a similar tool which allows people who haven’t filed income tax in 2018 or 2019 to enter information and speed up their stimulus check processing.
The stimulus provides $1,200 for individuals earning up to $75,000 and $2,400 for married couples filing jointly who earn up to $150,000, the stimulus program also provides $500 for each qualifying child.
Eligible retirees – along with recipients of Social Security, Railroad Retirement, disability or veterans’ benefits as well as taxpayers who do not make enough money to normally have to file a tax return – will receive a payment.
There are some exceptions, however.
The IRS said taxpayers likely won’t qualify for stimulus funds if they:
- Can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return. For example, this would include a child, student or older dependent who can be claimed on a parent’s return.
- Do not have a valid Social Security number.
- Are a nonresident alien.
- Filed Form 1040-NR or Form 1040NR-EZ, Form 1040-PR or Form 1040-SS for 2019
Some consumers spotted the first direct deposits as early as Saturday; others started seeing more information Monday. The IRS even tweeted Saturday evening that the agency deposited the first Economic Impact Payments into bank accounts Saturday.
Don’t expect to see words like “stimulus checks” or “recovery rebate” or “economic impact payment” on your bank statement. The wording being used is “IRS Treas 310.”
You’d get that money automatically deposited into your account if you’ve already given the IRS direct deposit information for tax refunds when you filed a 2018 or 2019 federal income tax return.
And you’d get that money automatically if you receive Social Security retirement or Social Security Disability Insurance benefits or receive Railroad Retirement benefits via direct deposit.
Taxpayers continue to have a slew of questions relating to the stimulus money, which is being released in waves. Here’s a look at some questions and answers:
When will I get my stimulus money?
When you actually get your money can vary. The first group would include people who have already given their bank account information to the IRS for the direct deposit of tax refunds on 2018 or 2019 tax returns.
In addition, Social Security beneficiaries who filed federal tax returns that included direct deposit information would be part of that first group.
The second wave of money could hit bank accounts as early as the week of April 20 for a group of people who receive Social Security benefits via direct deposit but may not make enough money to be required to file a federal income tax return in 2018 or 2019. Most in this group will not need to file any extra forms to receive this money.
Who gets a check instead of direct deposit? When do checks get sent?
Unfortunately, some people will need to wait to get checks if the IRS does not have your direct deposit information. The first round of checks is expected to go out in late April or possibly the first week in May.
The first paper checks are expected to go out to families who have the lowest incomes, possibly those who make less than $10,000 a year, but who do not have direct deposit information on file with the IRS.
Other waves of checks, based on incomes, will be sent weekly. But it could take a few months for all the checks to go out.
How will I know when the stimulus money is coming?
Check your bank account. But also realize that the IRS plans to mail a letter about the economic impact payment to the taxpayer’s last known address within 15 days after the payment is paid. The letter will provide information on how the payment was made and how to report any failure to receive the payment. If a taxpayer is unsure they’re receiving a legitimate letter, the IRS urges taxpayers to visit IRS.gov first to protect against scam artists.
How much stimulus money will I get?
How much money you get will depend on your adjusted gross income, based on information on your 2018 or 2019 tax return.
Tax filers with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns will receive the full payment.
The maximum is $1,200 for an adult – $2,400 for a married couple – and then you’d get $500 for children under age 17.
Taxpayers would have an opportunity to reconcile some differences relating to stimulus payouts when they file the 2020 tax return in the 2021 filing season.
“You’ll get any additional money due to you then, but you won’t have to pay anything back if your payment was too high,” according to Jackie Perlman, principal tax research analyst with H&R Block’s Tax Institute.
Can you receive less than $1,200 or less than $2,400?
Yes. Filers with incomes above $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for married couples filing a joint return could receive a reduced payment.
The payment amount is reduced by $5 for each $100 above the thresholds.
The possibility for a payment vanishes for single filers with incomes exceeding $99,000 and married couples filing joint returns with incomes exceeding $198,000 if they have no children who are eligible.
Do I need to take any action to get stimulus money?
Some people with low-incomes do need to give some information to the federal government first online, especially if you typically do not file a tax return.
“If you receive veterans disability compensation, a pension, or survivor benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or your income level does not require you to file a tax return, then you need to submit information to the IRS to receive an Economic Impact Payment,” according to the IRS.
Can I get my stimulus money deposited into a PayPal account?
Yes. PayPal announced that customers with a PayPal Cash Mastercard can receive their stimulus payment directly into their PayPal account by following a few simple steps.
Can I get my stimulus money directly deposited onto a prepaid card?
Most likely yes. If you don’t have a traditional bank account, getting money on a prepaid account is a way to avoid waiting around for a check.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced Monday that it is taking regulatory action to pave the way to make it easier for consumers to receive pandemic-relief payments, including the economic impact payments authorized in the CARES Act, through prepaid accounts.
Will I get my stimulus check on my TurboTax debit card?
Taxpayers who use TurboTax and set up an authorized direct deposit when they file will also receive their stimulus payment in the direct deposit account where they received their tax refund, according to TurboTax.
“If you did not set up an authorized account for direct deposit, you will receive a paper check. Refund advances are available across most tax prep providers. For taxpayers that opted to receive a refund advance, the entire tax prep industry is awaiting guidance from the IRS on how they will move forward with the distribution of stimulus payments,” according to TurboTax last week.
Worried that you’ll have to wait months and months to receive a stimulus check because the IRS doesn’t have your direct deposit information?
Later this week, you should be able to do something about it. The IRS has plans to announce more details about its “Get My Payment” tool online.
By going to “Get My Payment” on IRS.gov, eligible people are able to give the IRS their direct deposit information for their bank accounts so they don’t need to guard their mailboxes waiting for checks in the months ahead.
“This feature will be unavailable if the Economic Impact Payment has already been scheduled for delivery,” the IRS said in its statement on April 10.
According to a Treasury Department news release Monday, the “Get My Payment” free app “allows taxpayers who filed their tax return in 2018 or 2019 but did not provide their banking information on their return to submit direct deposit information so they can receive payments immediately, as opposed to getting mailed checks which will start being distributed before the end of April.”
How can I track my payment?
We’re expecting to get more word on that this week, too. The IRS “Get My Payment” tool also will enable you to check the status on your economic impact payments. “Get My Payment” will provide people with the status of their payment, including the date their payment is scheduled to be deposited into their bank account or mailed to them, according to the IRS.











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