The IRS set up an online portal called “Get My Payment” (https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment) so that people can track the status of their coronavirus stimulus check. People can also use the portal to enter their bank account information if it is not already on file with the IRS.
However, some people are having trouble tracking their payment status. They receive a “Payment Status Not Available” error message and are not given the opportunity to enter a bank account for direct deposit. The IRS FAQ page provides the following possible reasons:
1) 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.
2) 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 an SSA or RRB Form 1099 or SSI or VA benefits; information has not been loaded onto our systems yet for people who don’t normally file a tax return.
3) You’re not eligible for a payment
There are a number of other reasons why the error message appears. For example, the error message can show up if the information you type doesn’t exactly match the information on your tax return. Even the capitalization must match exactly. In addition, a large number of people have reported receiving the error message if all three of the following apply to them: they filed in 2018, they have not yet filed in 2019, and they owed money on their 2018 tax return (see https://www.11alive.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/payment-status-not-available/85-9f7b0fa1-ae1d-4af2-9111-e10c7395d1b9)
People who are not offered the option to provide direct deposit information in the IRS Get My Payment tool must wait for a check in the mail. Stimulus checks will be mailed between late April and September based on a person’s annual income, with those in the lower income brackets receiving theirs first and higher income brackets last.
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