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[irs.gov] Get My Payment Frequently Asked Questions
Source:
irs.gov
- Apr 28, 2020
For additional questions regarding the Economic Impact Payments visit our Economic Impact Payments Information Center.
Here is what you need to know about your Economic Impact Payment (EIP). For most taxpayers, payments are automatic, and no further action is needed. This includes taxpayers who filed tax returns in 2018 and 2019 and most seniors and retirees.
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EIP Eligibility and General Information
Accessing Get My Payment
Payment Status
Payment Status Not Available
Bank Account Information
Locked/Status Unavailable
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Address Changes
EIP Eligibility and General Information
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Who is eligible? [Updated: April 26, 2020]
U.S. citizens and U.S. resident aliens will receive the Economic Impact Payment of $1,200 for individual or head of household filers, and $2,400 for married filing jointly if they are not a dependent of another taxpayer and have a work eligible Social Security number with adjusted gross income up to:
$75,000 for individuals if their filing status was single or married filing separately
$112,500 for head of household filers and
$150,000 for married couples filing joint returns
Taxpayers will receive a reduced payment if their AGI is between:
$75,000 and $99,000 if their filing status was single or married filing separately
112,500 and $136,500 for head of household
$150,000 and $198,000 if their filing status was married filing jointly
The amount of the reduced payment will be based upon the taxpayers specific adjusted gross income.
Eligible retirees and recipients of Social Security retirement, survivor, or disability benefits (SSDI), Railroad Retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) will receive a payment.
For eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns for 2019 or 2018, they receive the payments automatically.
Those who don’t usually file a tax return and receive Social Security retirement, survivor, or disability benefits (SSDI), Railroad Retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) also receive automatic payments of $1,200. While some of these groups receive Forms 1099, many in this group don't typically file tax returns. Many people in these groups are expected to see the automatic $1,200 payments later this month, with SSI and VA payments expected to start in May.
For people who have little or no income and didn’t file a tax return or don’t receive any of the federal benefits listed above, they are also eligible for an Economic Impact Payment. They need to register with the Non-Filer tool on IRS.gov as soon as possible so they can receive a payment.
Who is not eligible?
Although some filers, such as high-income filers, will not qualify for an Economic Impact Payment, most will.
Taxpayers likely won't qualify for an Economic Impact Payment if any of the following apply:
Your adjusted gross income is greater than
$99,000 if your filing status was single or married filing separately
$136,500 for head of household
$198,000 if your filing status was married filing jointly
You 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.
You do not have a valid Social Security number.
You are a nonresident alien.
You filed Form 1040-NR or Form 1040NR-EZ, Form 1040-PR or Form 1040-SS for 2019.
How much is it worth?
Eligible individuals with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for single filers, $112,500 for head of household filers and $150,000 for married filing jointly are eligible for the full $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 married filing jointly. In addition, they are eligible for an additional $500 per qualifying child.
For filers with income above those amounts, the payment amount is reduced by $5 for each $100 above the $75,000/$112,500/$150,000 thresholds. Single filers with income exceeding $99,000, $136,500 for head of household filers and $198,000 for joint filers with no children are not eligible and will not receive payments.
Do I need to take action?
People who filed a tax return for 2019 or 2018
No additional action is needed by taxpayers who:
have already filed their tax returns this year for 2019. The IRS will use this information to calculate the payment amount.
haven’t filed yet for 2019 but filed a 2018 federal tax return. For these taxpayers the IRS will use their information from 2018 tax filings to make the Economic Impact Payment calculations.
People who aren't typically required to file a tax return
Social Security and Railroad Retirement recipients who are not typically required to file a tax return need to take no action. The IRS will use the information on the Form SSA-1099 and Form RRB-1099 to generate Economic Impact Payments of $1,200 to these individuals even if they did not file tax returns in 2018 or 2019. Recipients will receive these payments as a direct deposit or by paper check, just as they would normally receive their benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients are also part of this group who don't need to take action.
For Social Security, Railroad retirees and SSDI who have qualifying children, they can take an additional step to receive $500 per qualifying child.
There are other individuals such as low-income workers and certain veterans and individuals with disabilities who aren’t required to file a tax return, but they are still eligible for the Economic Impact Payments. Taxpayers can check the IRS.gov tool - Do I Need to File a Tax Return? - to see if they have a filing requirement.
If you don’t have to file, use the "Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here" application to provide simple information so you can get your payment.
Payment recipients: watch for an IRS letter
For security reasons, 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.
Avoid scams related to economic payments, COVID-19
The IRS urges taxpayers to be on the lookout for scam artists trying to use the economic impact payments as cover for schemes to steal personal information and money. Remember, the IRS will not call , text you, email you or contact you on social media asking for personal or bank account information – even related to the economic impact payments. Also, watch out for emails with attachments or links claiming to have special information about economic impact payments or refunds.
Should I use Get My Payment or Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here?
Use our guide to figure out which IRS tool to use to get your payment.
Accessing Get My Payment
When can I start checking Get My Payment for the status of my payment?
If you filed your 2018 or 2019 tax return and it has been processed, you can check Get My Payment for the status of your economic impact payment.
If I filed jointly with my spouse, does it matter whose information I use for Get My Payment?
Either spouse can use Get My Payment by providing their own information for the security questions used to verify their identity. Once verified, the same payment status will be shown for both spouses.
I am not required to file a tax return, can I still use Get My Payment to check my payment status?
Depending on your specific circumstances, it may not be possible for you to access Get My Payment if you usually do not file a tax return. If your identity cannot be verified when answering the required security questions, you will not be able to use Get My Payment.
I receive a Form SSA-1099 or RRB-1099. Can I use Get My Payment to check my payment status? [Updated: April 26, 2020]
Yes, you will be able to use Get My Payment to check the status of your payment after you verify your identity by answering the required security questions.
I receive a Form SSA-1099 or RRB-1099 and do not file a tax return because I don’t meet the income requirement to file. Can I use Get My Payment to provide my bank information to receive my EIP by direct deposit? [Updated: April 26, 2020]
You will not be able to use Get My Payment to provide your bank account information because you did not file tax returns for 2018 or 2019. The IRS will use the information on the Form SSA-1099 or Form RRB-1099 to generate your payment. You will receive your payment as a direct deposit or by mail, just as you would normally receive your benefits.
For example, if your benefits are currently deposited to a Direct Express card, your EIP will also be deposited to that card. If your benefits are currently deposited to your bank account, your EIP will also be deposit to that account.
If I have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), can I use Get My Payment?
You can access Get My Payment using an ITIN, but in most cases, the law does not allow an Economic Impact Payment (EIP) for individuals who file a return using an ITIN. The only exception is when two spouses file a joint tax return and either spouse is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during the taxable year, in which case only one spouse needs to have a valid SSN.
Payment Status
How long will it take for my payment status to change?
Updates to your payment status are made no more than once per day.
Does Get My Payment display different stages of my payment?
Get My Payment will display one of the following payment statuses:
1. Payment Status (one of two statuses) –
A payment has been processed, a payment date is available, and payment is to be sent either by direct deposit or mail.
You are eligible, but a payment has not been processed and a payment date is not available.
2. Need More Information – You are eligible for a payment, but we do not have your direct deposit information. You will be given the opportunity to provide your bank information once you have properly verified your identity. Direct Deposit is the fastest way to get your EIP.
3. Payment Status Not Available – We cannot determine your eligibility for a payment at this time. For example, you didn’t file either a 2018 or 2019 tax return, or you recently filed and the return has not been fully processed.
If a payment date is not provided, updates to your payment status are made no more than once per day.
When will Get My Payment provide a payment date after adding bank information? [Added: April 26, 2020]
If you enter your bank information in Get My Payment any day until noon on Tuesday, your payment date will be available beginning the following Saturday in Get My Payment.
If you enter your bank information after noon on Tuesday, your payment date should be available beginning the Saturday after next in Get My Payment.
There may be times when your payment may be sent by mail because the payment was already in process before the bank information was entered. If this is the case, then typically it will take up to 14 days to receive the payment (standard mailing time).
Payment Status Not Available
Why am I getting "Payment Status Not Available"? [Updated: April 26, 2020]
The Get My Payment application will return "Payment Status Not Available" for several reasons, including:
You are required to file a tax return, but:
We haven't finished processing your 2019 return
The application doesn't yet have your data; we’re working on adding more data to allow more people to use it.
You don't usually file a return, and:
You used Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here but we haven’t processed your entry yet
You receive SSI or VA benefits; information has not been loaded onto our systems yet for people who don’t normally file a tax return.
You’re not eligible for a payment (see Eligibility).
If you receive “Payment Status Not Available”, you will not be able to provide direct deposit information at this time. We’re working on updates to allow more people to use this feature.
We update Get My Payment data once per day, overnight so there is no need to check more often. If you are eligible for a payment and have provided your information either through a recent tax return or the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here application, please check back for updates.
Bank Account Information
Where did the IRS get my bank information, and what if I need to change it? [Updated: April 26, 2020]
Your bank account information for your economic impact payment is usually captured from:
the most recently filed tax return if you received a refund by direct deposit in 2018 or 2019, or
the bank information you provided on our Get My Payment application, or
the bank information you provided on the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool.
If Get My Payment indicates your payment is pending or has been processed, you cannot change your bank account information.
My bank account information has changed since I filed. Can I update it using the tool? [Updated: April 26, 2020]
To help protect against potential fraud, the tool also does not allow people to change direct deposit bank account information already on file with the IRS.
If we issue a direct deposit and the bank information is invalid or the bank account has been closed, the bank will reject the deposit. We will then mail your payment as soon as possible to the address we have on file for you. Get My Payment will be updated to reflect the date your payment will be mailed. Typically, once the payment is mailed, it will take up to 14 days to receive the payment, standard mailing time.
I no longer have the bank account that I used for direct deposit on my tax return. Can I change it using Get My Payment?
If the bank account is closed, the bank will reject the deposit and you will be issued your payment to the address we have on file for you. If our Get My Payment application indicates your payment has been processed, you cannot change your bank account information.
I used direct deposit to split my refund between several accounts when I filed my tax return. Can I use Get My Payment to designate which account I want my payment deposited in?
If you elected to split your refund between several accounts, you cannot use Get My Payment to designate which account to have your payment deposited in. We will deposit the payment to the first bank account that you listed on Form 8888, Allocation of Refund. If your direct deposit is rejected, your payment will be mailed to the address we have on file for you.
What does it mean when Get My Payment says, "Need More Information"?
You are eligible for an Economic Impact Payment (EIP), but we do not have your direct deposit information to send your payment electronically. You should provide your bank information once you have properly verified your identity. Make sure the routing number, account number, and account type are correct. You can find this information on one of your checks, through your online banking applications or by contacting your financial institution directly. Direct deposit is the fastest way to get your EIP.
If you choose not to provide your bank information or prefer to receive your EIP by mail, your payment will be sent to the address we have on file for you.
Can I use Get My Payment to check the direct deposit status if I changed my payment method to direct deposit?
Yes. You can use Get My Payment to check the status of your direct deposit after you provided your bank information. Updates to your payment status are made no more than once per day.
If Get My Payment is unavailable, will Where’s My Refund or View Your Account allow me to provide my bank information?
No, Where’s My Refund and View Your Account will not allow you to provide your bank information for purposes of your payment. Get My Payment is the only option available to enter your bank information to receive your payment through direct deposit instead of by mail if your payment has not already been scheduled. If Get My Payment is not available at the time you access it, you will need to try again later.
Get My Payment says that my Economic Impact Payment was sent to an account I don’t recognize. Why is that, and how do I get my payment? [Updated: April 21, 2020]
When some taxpayers file their tax return, they may choose an option available from their tax preparer or software provider to help them pay their fees, get their refund more quickly or even load the refund onto a direct debit card. This group of different products is referred to as refund settlement products. In these situations, taxpayers may:
Use a banking product to help them complete the tax filing transaction, sometimes referred to as a Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL) or a Refund Anticipation Check (RAC).
Choose to have their tax refund loaded onto a debit card provided by a variety of groups in the tax and financial communities.
When you filed your tax return, if you chose a refund settlement product for direct deposit purposes, you may have received a prepaid debit card. In some cases, your Economic Impact Payment may have been directed to the bank account associated with the refund settlement product or prepaid debit card.
If the refund settlement product or the associated account is closed or no longer active, the bank is required to reject the deposit and return it to the IRS. The “Get My Payment” app will be updated once the returned payment to the IRS is processed. Timing of this process depends on several variables, including when and how the payments are rejected and returned to the IRS, when “Get My Payment” updates, and when taxpayers check the tool.
Once the returned payment is processed by the IRS, the payment will automatically be mailed to the address on the 2019 or 2018 tax return, or the address on file with the U.S. Postal Service – whichever is more current, and the status in Get My Payment will update accordingly.
The IRS also noted that there was a reporting error that started showing up in recent days on Get My Payment, which inaccurately indicated rejected payments were being sent back to the same taxpayer account a second time. They are actually being mailed to the taxpayers. The IRS has quickly taken steps to correct this reporting error. Get My Payment will be updated starting Tuesday, April 21 to reflect that the taxpayer’s payment has actually been mailed; not rerouted to a closed bank account.
I don’t recognize the bank information shown on my Payment Status. What can I do? What will happen to my payment? [Added: April 26, 2020]
If you received your refund via a prepaid card or through your tax preparer, you may not recognize the information shown. In some cases, your preparer may have used an account number similar to your Social Security number.
Your bank account information for your Economic Impact Payment is captured from:
the most recently filed tax return if you received a refund by direct deposit in 2018 or 2019, or
the bank information you provided on our Get My Payment application, or
the bank information you provided on the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool.
If we issue a direct deposit and the bank information is invalid or the bank account has been closed, the bank will reject the deposit. We will then mail your payment as soon as possible to the address we have on file for you. Get My Payment will be updated to reflect the date your payment will be mailed. Typically, it will take up to 14 days to receive the payment, standard mailing time. No action is needed on your part to ensure the payment will be re-issued.
I applied my 2019 refund toward my 2020 estimated tax (or 2018 refund toward my 2019 estimated tax if based on your 2018 return). What should I enter for the refund amount? [Added: April 26, 2020]
If you requested that all or part of your refund be applied toward your estimated tax, you should enter the total amount of your refund from line 21a of your 2019 tax return (or line 20a of your 2018 tax return).
I neither owed nor received a refund on my tax return. What should I enter to submit my bank information? [Added: April 26, 2020]
You can select either “I received a refund” or “I owed money” and enter 0 for the “Refund Amount or Amount You Owed.”
Locked/Status Unavailable
What does it mean when Get My Payment says, "Please Try Again Later"? [Updated: April 26, 2020]
Your account has been locked.
Information you entered does not match our records – for security reasons we limit each user to three failed attempts per 24-hour period; or
You have already accessed the system the maximum number of times within 24 hours – we limit each user to five logins per day to manage system capacity.
You will able to access the application after 24 hours have passed. Please do not contact the IRS.
Why can't I get my payment status?
To use Get My Payment, you must first verify your identity by answering security questions. If the information you enter does not match our records multiple times, you will be locked out of Get My Payment for 24 hours for security reasons. If you are unable to verify your identity, you will not be able to use Get My Payment. No action is needed to contact the IRS.
If you verified your identity and received “Payment Status Not Available,” this means we cannot determine your eligibility for a payment at this time. This may occur for a variety of reasons, for example, if you didn’t file either a 2018 or 2019 tax return or you recently filed and the return has not been fully processed.
Will Where’s My Refund or View Your Account provide my payment status?
No. Where’s My Refund and View Your Account will not provide the status of your payment. Get My Payment is the only option available to get your payment status. If it is not available at the time you access it, you will need to try again later.
Error Message
Why am I receiving an error message when entering my personal information or tax information? [Updated: April 26, 2020]
To ensure the information is entered correctly, please use the help tips provided when entering the information requested to verify your identity. If the information you enter does not match our records, you will receive an error message. Check the information requested to ensure you entered it accurately.
You may want to check your most recent tax return or consider if there is a different way to enter your street address (for example, 123 N Main St vs 123 North Main St). You may also verify how your address is formatted with the US Postal Service (USPS) by entering your address in the USPS ZIP Lookup tool, and then enter your address into Get My Payment exactly as it appears on file with USPS.
If you receive an error when entering your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), refund amount, or amount you owed, make sure you are entering the numbers exactly as they appear on your Form 1040 or tax transcript. If the numbers from your 2019 tax return are not accepted, try the numbers from your 2018 tax return instead.
If the information you enter does not match our records three times within 24 hours, you will be locked out of Get My Payment for 24 hours for security reasons. You will be able to access the application again after 24 hours. There is no need to contact the IRS.
Address Changes
My address is different from the last tax return I filed. Can I change it using Get My Payment? [Updated: April 26, 2020]
No. Get My Payment will not allow you to change your address. To change your address:
If you have not filed your 2019 tax return, enter your new address on your return when you file. We update our records when your return is processed. File electronically to ensure your return will be processed more quickly.
If you have filed your 2019 tax return and you did not receive a refund via direct deposit, your payment will be mailed to the address we have on file for you. This is generally the address on your most recent return or as updated through the United States Postal Service (USPS).
If you are required to file a tax return, you can go to IRS Free File to file your return electronically.
If you are not required to file, go to our IRS Non-Filers: Enter Your Payment Info Here application to electronically submit your information to receive the Economic Impact Payment (EIP).
Note: Due to our efforts to protect IRS employees, taxpayers and our stakeholders, extremely limited services are currently available. The IRS is unable to process paper tax returns, respond to paper correspondence or staff toll-free live service lines. Please use all electronic options available to you on IRS.gov or through your tax software provider.
I requested a direct deposit of my payment. Why are you mailing it to me? [Updated: April 26, 2020]
It is possible that we do not have the correct bank account information for you, or your financial institution rejected the direct deposit. In either case, your payment will be mailed to the address we have on file for you.
Note: Get My Payment will not allow you to change your bank information once your payment has been processed. No action is needed to contact the IRS as phone assistors won’t be able to change your bank information either.
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