IRS Unveils Get My Payment Tool
Treasury, IRS unveil online application to help with Economic Impact Payments; Get My Payment allows people to provide direct deposit information and gives payment date
Working with the Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service unveiled the new Get My Payment with features to let taxpayers check on their Economic Impact Payment date and update direct deposit information.
Get My Payment will show the projected date when a deposit has been scheduled, similar to the “Where’s My Refund tool” many taxpayers are already familiar with.
Get My Payment also allows people a chance to provide their bank information. People who did not use direct deposit on their last tax return will be able to input information to receive the payment by direct deposit into their bank account, expediting receipt.
Get My Payment is updated once daily, usually overnight. The IRS urges taxpayers to only use Get My Payment once a day given the large number of people receiving Economic Impact Payments.
How to use Get My Payment
Available only on IRS.gov, the online application is safe and secure to use. Taxpayers only need a few pieces of information to quickly obtain the status of their payment and, where needed, provide their bank account information. Having a copy of their most recent tax return can help speed the process.
- For taxpayers to track the status of their payment, this feature will show taxpayers the payment amount, scheduled delivery date by direct deposit or paper check and if a payment hasn’t been scheduled. They will need to enter basic information including:
- Social Security number
- Date of birth, and
- Mailing address used on their tax return.
- Taxpayers needing to add their bank account information to speed receipt of their payment will also need to provide the following additional information:
- Their Adjusted Gross Income from their most recent tax return submitted, either 2019 or 2018
- The refund or amount owed from their latest filed tax return
- Bank account type, account and routing numbers
Get My Payment cannot update bank account information after an Economic Impact Payment has been scheduled for delivery. To help protect against potential fraud, the tool also does not allow people to change bank account information already on file with the IRS.
Glitches
A number of our clients have reported receiving the message “Payment Status Not Available” when they enter their information in the Get My Payment tool. The IRS states that there are a number of reasons the tool can’t check the status of a stimulus payment:
- You aren’t eligible for a payment.
- Your payment is based on your status as a Social Security, disability, Veterans Affairs or Railroad Retirement beneficiary. In this case, the IRS will use your SSA or RRB Form 1099 payment information. Your payment information isn’t available on the “Get My Payment” tool.
- You have not filed a 2018 or 2019 federal tax return.
- You filed your 2019 return, but it hasn’t been fully processed.
- You used the non-filers tool, but the information you entered is still being processed.
- There’s a problem verifying your identity when answering the security questions.
However, some people are reporting they receive that message even though they do not fit into one of these categories. The IRS says people who qualify for a payment will receive it by mail if they do not get it from direct deposit.
If you used certain tax preparation services and received an advance on your tax refund or had the tax preparation fee taken out of your refund, the IRS does not have your direct deposit information and you should use the Get My Payment tool to enter your direct deposit information.
Watch out for scams related to Economic Impact Payments
The IRS urges taxpayers to be on the lookout for scams related to the Economic Impact Payments. To use the new app or get information, taxpayers should visit IRS.gov. People should watch out for scams using email, phone calls or texts related to the payments. Be careful and cautious: The IRS will not send unsolicited electronic communications asking people to open attachments, visit a website or share personal or financial information. Remember, go directly and solely to IRS.gov for official information.
More information
The IRS will post frequently asked questions on IRS.gov/coronavirus and will provide updates as soon as they are available.