How to Track Your Stimulus Check as IRS Distributes 161 Million Payments

The Internal Revenue Service has issued nearly two million stimulus payments in its sixth payment batch. To date, a total of around 161 million third stimulus payments have been issued, the federal body said on Thursday.

Individuals can check the status of their latest stimulus payment using the Get My Payment tool at the IRS website.

The latest payment batch began processing on April 16 with an official payment date of April 21. Around 900,000 payments were made via direct deposit, while nearly 1.1 million payments were issued as paper checks, the IRS said.

"The IRS will continue to make Economic Impact Payments [stimulus payments] on a weekly basis. Ongoing payments will be sent to eligible individuals for whom the IRS previously did not have information to issue a payment but who recently filed a tax return, as well to people who qualify for 'plus-up' payments," the federal body advised.

How to track your stimulus check

Those expecting a stimulus payment can check the status of their funds using the Get My Payment tool at the IRS website. The IRS says the "Get My Payment updates once a day, usually overnight."

The tool allows users to verify when their payment is scheduled to be sent or when and how it was sent by the IRS.

Those using the Get My Payment tool will see one of the following messages, as outlined at the IRS website:

Payment status

Some users may be told: "Your payment has been scheduled and it will be sent on the date shown by direct deposit or mail. If your payment is by mail, you will receive an EIP debit card or a check. The amount of your third Economic Impact Payment is not shown."

Others may receive a note saying: "You're eligible, but a payment has not been processed and a payment date isn't available yet."

Payment status not available

Users may be told the IRS is "unable to show your payment status" because either their stimulus payment has not yet been processed or they are not eligible for payment.

Need more information

Some users could be told: "Your return was processed. We don't have account information available for you and your payment has not been issued yet."

Others may see a message saying the U.S. Postal Service was unable to deliver the payment and that it was returned to the IRS.

What if I haven't received payment yet?

The IRS says: "The third round of Economic Impact Payments are being sent in phases. If you haven't received one yet, it doesn't mean you won't."

"Each week we're sending the third payments to eligible individuals as we continue to process tax returns. Payments are sent by direct deposit or mail as a check or debit card. The IRS is mailing Notice 1444-C to people who received a third Economic Impact Payment," the federal body advises.

Stimulus payments are automatically sent to most people. However, the IRS urges those who don't normally file taxes and have yet to receive their stimulus funds to submit a 2020 tax return "to get all the benefits they're entitled to under the law," the federal body says.

This includes tax credits such as the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, the Child Tax Credit, and the Earned Income Tax Credit.

For example, some federal benefit recipients who don't normally file taxes may need to file a tax return to provide the IRS with the information required to send payments for a qualifying dependent.

Those who don't usually file taxes and don't receive federal benefits, including those experiencing homelessness, may still qualify for stimulus payments.

The IRS says: "Individuals who didn't get a first or second round Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts may be eligible for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, but they'll need to file a 2020 tax return."

See the IRS website for information on how to claim Recovery Rebate Credit if you don't usually file taxes.