It’s bad enough if a new sweater you ordered on amazon gets lost in the mail, but you’ll really be mad if the post office loses your $600 stimulus check. what do you do then? Or what if your bank never receives your IRS direct deposit stimulus payment? Are you going to lose that money?
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see more third stimulus check update: when could we get another stimulus check?
Fortunately, the IRS has a procedure to help. If your first round ($1,200) or second round ($600) stimulus payment is lost, stolen, or destroyed, you can ask the IRS to run a “payment trace” to see if your payment was collected. in fact, you may need to request a trace to eventually get paid (assuming you’re eligible for a stimulus check). that’s the good news.
but there’s also some less than exciting news. First, whether or not your check has cleared, the IRS will not reissue your payment. instead, you’ll need to claim the amount you’re owed as a “recovery refund” credit on your 2020 tax return, which means you won’t receive your stimulus check money right away. Second, as with any government application, there is a good list of procedures that you must follow. slip on one of the steps and you could find yourself in a bureaucratic black hole. But don’t worry, while dealing with the IRS can be intimidating, we’ll help you through the process.
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who can request payment tracking
You can track the status of your stimulus check using the IRS Get My Payment portal. if you receive a stimulus payment, this online tool will let you know how it will be delivered (for example, paper check or direct deposit) and provide an estimated arrival date.
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see more is your stimulus check taxable?
Also, after your stimulus payment is processed, the IRS will send you a letter letting you know that a payment was sent to you. the letter is formally known as notice 1444 for first-round stimulus checks and notice 1444-b for second-round payments.
You can request a payment follow-up only if you have not received your stimulus payment and you:
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get a letter from the irs (notice 1444 or 1444-b); or
The “get my payment” tool shows that your payment was issued.
do not request a payment follow-up to determine if you are eligible for a payment or to confirm the amount of money you should have received.
when to request payment tracking
If the “get my payment” tool or your 1444/1444-b notice says that your payment was issued as a direct deposit to your bank account, you should first check with your bank before submitting a payment tracking request to make sure they did not receive a deposit. but please allow at least five days after the estimated delivery date. otherwise, the bank may not have the necessary information.
If you were scheduled to receive a first-round paper stimulus check in the mail, the IRS cannot initiate payment tracking unless it was:
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four weeks from when the check was sent to a standard address;
six weeks from check mailing if you have a forwarding address on file with your local post office; or
nine weeks from when the check was sent to a foreign address.
for second round payments, payment tracking is not allowed until:
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February 24, 2021, if the check was mailed to a standard address;
March 10, 2021, if the check was mailed if you have a forwarding address on file with your local post office; or
March 31, 2021, if the check was mailed to a foreign address.
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see more where is my stimulus check? use the irs “get my payment” portal to get an answer
(note: if you have a foreign address, there may be international service interruptions in the u.s. postal service or in the foreign country in which you are located due to to the covid-19 pandemic (see the usps service alerts website and check with your local consulate for more information).
how to request a payment tracking
There are two ways to request a stimulus payment follow-up:
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call irs at 800-919-9835; or
mail or fax a completed form 3911 to the irs.
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see more 6 Reasons Your Second Stimulus Check Might Be Delayed
Choose only one method (eg, do not submit Form 3911 if you have already requested a trace by phone). Also remember that you cannot request a payment follow-up before the deadlines described above; The IRS cannot process an application until the appropriate time period has elapsed.
if you are using form 3911, make sure you:
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type “eip1” (first round payment) or “eip2” (second round payment) at the top of the form to identify which payment you want to track;
complete the form answering all refund questions related to your stimulus payment;
when completing item 7 of section 1, check the box for “individual” as the return type, enter “2020” as the tax period and do not enter anything for the filing date; and
sign the form (if you file a joint tax return, both spouses must sign the form).
mail or fax the form to the appropriate address or fax number according to the chart below. do not send anything other than a 3911 form to the fax numbers listed.
what the irs will do
You will generally receive a response about six weeks after the IRS receives your payment tracking request (there may be delays due to a shortage of IRS staff). They will process your claim for a missing payment in one of two ways. If the check didn’t cash, the IRS will reverse your payment. they will also send you a notice. if the original check shows up later, you should return it as soon as possible. then you’ll need to claim the “recovery refund” credit on your 2020 tax return to receive your payment (assuming you’re eligible for the credit).
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see more Recovery Refund Credit: Get Your Stimulus Check Paid In Full With This Tax Credit
if the check was cashed, the u.s. The tax service office will send you a claim package that includes a copy of the cashed check. follow the instructions on the package. the office will review your claim and the signature on the canceled check before determining if the payment can be reversed. if it reverses, you’ll need to claim the “catchback refund” credit on your 2020 return to get your money.
It is very important that you submit a payment tracking request as described above. since the payment was issued to you, you may be deemed ineligible for the “recovery refund” credit if you do not request a follow-up.
Also, if you file your 2020 tax return before your payment tracking is complete, do not include the payment amount on line 16 or 19 of the Recovery Refund Credit Worksheet (worksheet calculation is in the instructions for form 1040) . You may receive a notice that your recovery refund credit has been changed, but an adjustment will be made after follow-up is complete and it is determined that your payment has not been collected. in that case, you will not need to take any additional action to receive the credit.
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see more your second stimulus check: how much? when? and other frequently asked questions
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