Stimulus Check Issues | IRS Payment Problems

The vast majority of individuals and married couples who received a first stimulus check will also be receiving a second stimulus check, but the amount they will be receiving is half of what the first check was. In addition, not everyone who received a first check will be receiving a second one due to the fact that the checks are less than the first round of checks.

Individuals who make $87,000 and more, heads of household who make $124,500 and more, and couples who make $174,000 and more will not be receiving any amount of money in a second Stimulus Check.

Second stimulus checks could begin to start being deposited into bank accounts before the end of 2020, but a number of issues could cause a delay since President Trump waited multiple days to sign the stimulus bill into law after demanding that the stimulus checks be a much higher amount. He ultimately backed down and signed the legislation and now the Trump Administration is confident they can deposit checks to most Americans "within three weeks."

That three week timeline is extremely important considering, by law, all checks must be mailed or deposited by Jan. 15, 2021. If you have not received your check by that date or if it is the incorrect amount then you will have to wait until you file your 2020 taxes to claim your Recovery Rebate Credit.

One more unknown is whether the amount you receive will potentially be much higher. The House of Representatives voted on standalone legislation which President Trump has championed that will increase the 2nd stimulus check for most Americans $2,000 instead of $600, but it is unclear if that legislation has the votes to pass in the Senate. 

Over one hundred million Americans have received their first stimulus check, but many people never received one or received a check that was less than expected due to a number of reasons. 

If you never received your first stimulus check or it was less than you are eligible for then you will have to wait until you file your 2020 Federal income taxes and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. You are still eligible to receive the full amount you qualify for based off your income and number of dependents, but one very important difference is that the amount you're eligible for will be calculated based off your 2020, not 2019, tax returns.

That will be quite helpful for individuals and couples who lost their jobs or had their income significantly reduced in 2020, but it could make it more complicated for those who wound up earning more in 2020 than they did in 2019.

A number of problems have been reported with the IRS stimulus check portal, especially during the initial roll out of the website. Most technical issues have been resolved, but some people have still had difficulty being able to log in successfully or have received error messages informing them there is something wrong with their submission. 

There are two options for checking on the status of your stimulus check and which one you use depends on whether or not you are required to file Federal income taxes.

• Get My Payment: Individuals and married couples who file income taxes jointly are required to use the "Get My Payment" portal to get their stimulus check. Once you click on the "Get My Payment" link you will be directed to a page informing you that the website you are on is for authorized use only. Click "OK" to be directed to a page which asks you to input your Social Security Number, date of birth, street address, and zip code. It is extremely important that you enter your information exactly the way it is on file with the IRS or else you may get an error message or temporarily locked out of the website for 24 hours.  
• Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here: Individuals and married couples who aren't required to file Federal income taxes should use the "Non-Filers" portal to get your stimulus check. Government program beneficiaries who are not required to file income taxes, but have a qualifying dependent child residing in their household should also use this portal in order to get the additional $500/qualifying dependent. Non-filers have a deadline of October 15, 2020 to sign up for their stimulus check. 
• Payment Status Not Available: One of the most common problems people trying to get their stimulus check run into is getting a "Payment Status Not Available" error message. The most common reasons you will receive this message is because the IRS hasn't finished processing your 2019 tax returns or because your application is missing required information. You can also receive this message because you accidentally used the wrong IRS stimulus check portal. 
   

Some individuals and couples do not qualify for any amount of stimulus money and will not be receiving a stimulus check.

• Income Too High: Individuals who earn over $99,000, heads of households who earn over $136,500, and couples who earn over $198,000 will not receive a stimulus check. These numbers are based off your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).
• Not an "Eligible" Dependent: Dependents aged 17-24 who are claimed on their parents Federal income taxes are ineligible for both the full $1,200 stimulus check and the $500 per dependent. There is no appeals process for anyone who is still claimed as a dependent, but if you fall within this age group and can prove you're not claimed as a dependent then you will be eligible for a stimulus check if you meet the income requirements. 
• One or Both Spouses Don't Have a Social Security Number: The stimulus check law only provides checks to individuals and couples that have Social Security Numbers. If one spouse does not have a Social Security number then that household will not qualify for a stimulus check. However, people who fall into this category may file their taxes separately in 2020 and the person with the Social Security Number will be able to request their stimulus money then.
• Incarcerated or in Violation of Parole: Anyone serving jail or prison sentences (after being convicted of a crime), held in a mental health facility after being found guilty, not guilty by reason of insanity, or incompetent to stand trial, confined to a halfway house, or in violation of probation or parole is ineligible to receive a stimulus check. If you fall into this category and received one by error then you are required to return the check.
   

Many individuals and couples thought they qualified for a stimulus check, but never received one or, if they did, the check was less than expected.

• Stimulus Check Never Arrived:  If you believe you are entitled to a stimulus check but never received one then there are a  number of things you can do to check on the status of your check. The first thing you should do is check the status of your payment on the IRS stimulus check portal. There you will find the date your payment was supposed to be directly deposited into your bank account or when a check was mailed to your address. If your address doesn't match what the IRS has on file then you will need to update your address or call the IRS directly at 800-919-9835. If your banking or direct deposit information doesn't match what the IRS has on file then you should immediately contact your former bank to see what your options are. 
• Stimulus Check Was Less Than Expected: The most common reason your stimulus check may be less than expected has to do with tax filing. If you haven't filed your 2019 tax return yet but had direct deposit already set up from your 2018 tax returns then your stimulus check amount would have been based on that amount. So, for example, if you earned more than $75,000 as a single filer or $150,000 as a married couple filing jointly in 2018 and made less in 2019 but haven't filed your 2019 taxes then your stimulus check amount will be based on your 2018 taxes. However, the IRS has said that you will be eligible to claim the additional amount when you file your 2020 taxes. 
• Stimulus Check Was More Than Expected: There have been a number of instances where stimulus checks have been more than you expected. If your spouse or family member died before receiving their stimulus check then that money must be returned to the IRS. Only the money for the deceased person must be returned if one spouse survives. Some people have received more than expected because they made less in 2018 than they did in 2019 but hadn't filed their 2019 taxes yet. The IRS has said those people, as of now, do not need to return all or part of their stimulus checks. 
• Stimulus Check Went to a Temporary Account Created by a Tax-Prep Agency: Some people who use tax-preparation agencies to file their taxes have had their stimulus checks sent to temporary accounts held by the tax prep agency instead of to their own bank accounts or residence. The IRS has encouraged people who has used a tax-prep agency and hasn't received their stimulus check to contact the company they used or to log onto the Get My Payment portal and update your banking information there. 
• Missed Direct Deposit Deadline: The IRS set a deadline of May 13, 2020 to sign up to receive your stimulus check via direct deposit. After that date the only way to receive your stimulus check is via paper check or prepaid debit card.
• Accidentally Threw Away Stimulus Check or Prepaid Debit Card: There have been numerous reports of people accidentally throwing away their stimulus check or debit card. If you think you accidentally threw away your check or prepaid debit card then you should call 800-240-8100 or visit EIPcard.com to request a new one.
• The Additional $500 Per Dependent Didn't Arrive or Was Less Than Expected: The stimulus law provided for an additional $500 per dependent aged 16 and under. Any dependent in your household that is aged 17-24 will not qualify for the additional $500. However, if your dependent child qualifies for the additional $500 but you didn't receive it then you will have to wait  to get the additional funds until you file your 2020 taxes next year. 
• Divorced Families With Shared Custody of Dependent Children: The additional $500 per qualifying dependent child can only be claimed by one parent per child and that will be based off of 2019 tax filings. So if one parent claims two dependent children and the other parent claims one dependent child on their 2019 taxes then the former will receive an additional $1,000 while the latter will get an additional $500. Parents who filed jointly in 2019 but divorced afterwards will have to negotiate who will receive the additional $500 per child either among themselves or with counsel.   
   

There have been a number of roadblocks reported for people who have yet to file their Federal income taxes or who aren't traditionally required to file income taxes.

• Haven't Filed Taxes in 2018 or 2019: If you did not file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 and are unsure if you need to in order to receive a stimulus check then you will need to go visit the IRS's Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA) and select "Do I Need to File a Tax Return." You will be asked a number of questions about your income and other basic information and will then be told whether you need to file a tax return in order to receive your stimulus check.
• Aren't Required to File a Tax Return: If you are not required to file a tax return and do not receive any Social Security or any other Federal benefit then you will need to enter some basic information in the "Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here" portal in order to receive your stimulus check.
• Federal Tax Return Has Not Been Processed: If you have filed your 2019 Federal taxes but it has not been processed yet then you will unfortunately have to wait until they are processed before receiving a stimulus check. 
• 2018 or 2019 Federal Tax Returns Under Review or Audit: Many Americans have reported that they haven't received their stimulus checks because their Federal tax returns are under IRS audit. To be clear, there is nothing in the stimulus check law that says the IRS must do this, but there is also nothing in the law that prevents them from withholding a stimulus check for individuals and couples under audit. If you are under audit and have not received your stimulus check you can contact a taxpayer advocate, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, their services have been drastically cut back and you should expect long wait times.
    

A number of life changes since filing your 2019 Federal income taxes could affect the amount of stimulus money you receive or whether you receive any stimulus money at all before filing your 2020 Federal income taxes.

• Address Doesn't Match IRS Records: If you have moved since filing your 2019 taxes and haven't updated that information then you will need to update your address with the IRS as soon as possible. Your payment status on the IRS stimulus check portal will also be changed to "Need More Information." The IRS has stated that they will hold your stimulus check until you update your contact information.
• Bank Account Doesn't Match IRS Records: If you have changed bank accounts since filing your 2019 taxes and haven't updated that information and still haven't received a stimulus check then you should log onto the IRS stimulus check portal to make sure your mailing address is correct. The IRS stopped depositing stimulus checks into bank accounts on May 13, 2020.
• Departed Spouse or Relative Received Stimulus Check: If a spouse or relative passed away before receiving a stimulus check then that money should be sent back to the IRS. The surviving spouse may keep their portion of the stimulus check. Only the amount for the departed individual should be returned. 
• Divorced Families With Shared Custody of Dependent Children: The additional $500 per qualifying dependent child can only be claimed by one parent per child, which will be based off of 2019 tax filings. Parents who filed jointly in 2019 but divorced afterwards will have to negotiate who will receive the additional $500 per child either among themselves or with counsel.  
• Divorced Without Dependent Children: Couples who have separated or divorced since jointly filing their 2019 Federal income taxes will, for the time being, have to coordinate with their former partner or seek legal intervention if they are unable to come to a mutual agreement.   
   

If you didn't receive the full amount of stimulus money that you were expecting to then it may be for one or more of the reasons below.

• Bank Debts/Negative Bank Account: If you have debts or a negative bank account with the bank you have direct deposit set up with then that bank is legally able to withdraw money from your stimulus check to pay off your debts. Many banks have stated they will work with their customers to find a viable solution. Each bank has their own set of rules and regulations, so it's important to personally contact your bank to see what your options are. However, if you have not received your stimulus check yet and it arrives via check or prepaid debit card then you are under no legal obligation to use that money to pay off your bank debts. 
• Debt Collectors: The stimulus law prohibits most state and federal agencies from garnishing your stimulus check, but it does allow private debt collectors to take all or part of your stimulus check if you do not already have an agreed upon payment plan in place. Once again, if you have not received your stimulus check yet and it arrives via check or prepaid debit card then you are under no legal obligation to use that money to pay off your debts. 
• Past Due Child Support: If you are behind on child support then your stimulus check will either be partially or totally withheld, depending on the amount you owe. The stimulus check law explicitly carved out past due child support as a reason a check may be withheld. The law doesn't carve out any exemptions for married couples filing jointly where one spouse is responsible for child support.
   

Individuals and married couples enrolled in various government programs are entitled to a stimulus check under the same income caps as people not enrolled in a government program.

• Social Security, Railroad Retirement and Department of Veteran Affairs benefit recipients: Individuals and married couples receiving Social Security retirement, Social Security survivor or disability benefits, Supplemental Security Income, Veterans Affairs beneficiaries, and  Railroad Retirement Program enrolles should automatically receive their stimulus checks in the bank account associated with their program. If you have not received your payment yet the IRS encourages you to check your payment status to see if a check has been issued and to request a new one if you didn't receive it. All beneficiaries should have received their checks as of the end of May, 2020.
• Income Caps: Individuals and couples enrolled in any of the above government programs are subject to the same income caps as individuals and couples who aren't enrolled in government programs. For example, if you and your spouse are enrolled in Social Security Retirement but earned more than $198,000 in 2019 then you will not be eligible for a stimulus check. 
• Recently Unemployed: If you are unemployed due to COVID-19 (or any other eligible reason) but made more than $99,000 or $198,000 in 2019 then you will unfortunately have to wait until you file your 2020 tax returns to be eligible for a stimulus check.