Stimulus money doesn’t grow on trees, but if you unexpectedly receive a plus-up payment, it might feel that way.
If you are still waiting for your third stimulus check for up to $1,400, know that the IRS is not done sending payments. Already in the month of June, the tax agency has sent more than 2 million stimulus checks in the mail and made another 2.3 million payments as direct deposits to the bank accounts of those who are eligible for a payment. The IRS is sticking to a weekly payment schedule, sending new batches of checks and plus-up payments each week. If you’re still waiting for yours, however, we can help you check the status of your money.
The plus-up payments are for those who didn’t get the correct amount of their stimulus payment. This could be the case if the IRS based your payment on your 2019 tax return but then determines you’re eligible for a larger check after processing your 2020 tax return.
If your third stimulus payment never arrived, we’ll explain how to track its status online and report a problem. We can also help you calculate your upcoming child tax credit payments, tell you three ways to know if you qualify and explain the two IRS letters landing in your mailbox. As for other personal finance news, the IRS is issuing unemployment tax refunds to millions. This story gets updated frequently.
Stimulus checks and plus-up payments on a weekly schedule
Since March, the IRS has made 169 million stimulus payments with this third round of checks, for $395 billion.That includes the latest wave of 900,000 checks for a total of $1.9 billion to those who recently filed a tax return, allowing the IRS to determine they were eligible for a payment. The IRS also sent a batch of 1.1 million plus-up payments, for more than $2.5 billion.
What are plus-up stimulus payments? Depending on which year’s tax form the IRS used when it did the math on your third payment, the IRS may have calculated the amount of the payment using an older tax form instead of your 2020 filing. If this is your situation, once the IRS receives your 2020 tax return and calculates your third payment again, you could be due more money based on information from your current filing — or other factors if you don’t usually file.
The IRS said it’s automatically sending these plus-up payments if it needs to square up the amount it owes you, but to double-check the math, you may want to confirm how much money you should expect this stimulus round and then track your payment.
Watch this:
Stimulus plus-up payments: What you need to know
2:58
How to use Get My Payment to track your stimulus check
With the IRS Get My Payment tool, you can get a daily update on your payment status. The online app can also alert you with a message if there’s a problem with your payment that you may need to address. It can’t, however, give updates on your plus-up payment from the IRS.
If you expect your payment to come in the mail, you can use a free tool from the US Postal Service to track your mailed stimulus payment.
What might be causing an issue with your stimulus payment
Here’s some information on possible delays with your stimulus check and other problems you might encounter.
How to notify the IRS of a problem with your stimulus check
The IRS doesn’t want you to call if you encounter a problem with the delivery or amount of your stimulus check. So what to do instead? Our guide walks you through how to report stimulus check problems, including checks that never arrived (try filing a payment trace), direct deposit payments that went to the wrong account and other issues.
Stimulus check delivery start and end dates
| First direct deposits made | March 17 (official) |
|---|---|
| First paper checks sent | Week of March 15 |
| First EIP cards sent | Week of March 22 |
| First Social Security, SSI, SSDI payment sent | Weekend of April 3, most arriving April 7 |
| First plus-up payments | Weekend of April 3 |
| VA benefits for veteran nonfilers | Week of April 14 |
| IRS deadline to finish sending checks | Dec. 31, 2021 (mandated by the bill) |
| Last date to receive a check | January 2022 (if mailed checks sent late December) |
| Final claims for missing stimulus money | 2021 tax season likely (in 2022) |
If your stimulus amount is less than you expected
The IRS isn’t particularly big on communicating how much money it calculates for your stimulus check. You won’t find that figure in the agency’s online tracking tool, but you will see it in the confirmation letter you’ll receive in the mail. (And here’s why you got the payment size you did.)
So what happens if you use our stimulus check calculator and notice the numbers seem way off, or the IRS letter quotes an amount you didn’t receive? Start by triple-checking your qualifications to make sure you’re eligible for the total you expect. Remember the IRS is automatically sending plus-up payments and that happens after the agency receives your 2020 tax return. If you had a baby or otherwise added a dependent in 2020, you won’t need to file an amended tax form to claim the supplement.
The IRS could open up claims for missing stimulus money before its Dec. 31 deadline to stop sending checks. If not, you might have to wait a year to claim it — when you file your 2021 taxes in 2022 (even if you’re a nonfiler who isn’t typically required to file taxes).
Update on a potential fourth payment
Millions have been clamoring for recurring stimulus payments, and some lawmakers have expressed support for more relief aid through the pandemic. But President Joe Biden hasn’t pledged support to a fourth check, focusing instead on his proposed American Families Plan and American Jobs Plan.
In a press conference on June 3, White House press secretary Jen Psaki played down the possibility of a fourth stimulus payment, asserting that the administration has already put forward an economic recovery plan. We’ll continue to follow the debate in Washington over additional economic impact payments.
What to do with the IRS letter on the third payment
We think you should hold on to that IRS letter that confirms your stimulus payment, including the amount and how the IRS sent your money. That letter from the IRS — Notice 1444-C — is your proof that the IRS sent a payment in case you don’t actually receive it or if you received less than you qualify for and need to claim the missing amount later. Here’s more on what to do with that IRS letter.
How 2020 tax returns correspond to stimulus payments
Taxes were due May 17. So how will the IRS figure out how much it owes you? It will calculate your total (you can also do that here) based on the most recent tax filing it’s processed when tabulating the amount of your stimulus check.
If you know your tax return was already processed, your total will likely be based on your 2020 adjusted gross income, not on your 2019 AGI. That presents complications if the difference between the two years disqualifies you from getting a third stimulus check.
On the flip side, if the IRS uses your 2019 taxes and you’re owed more money based on your 2020 AGI and dependents, you could get a plus-up payment. If you got more than you’re owed, you’ll only need to return it to the IRS in some cases.
Timeline for stimulus checks this year
Most of the third stimulus check payments have gone out from the IRS and US Department of the Treasury, based on the information the IRS has on hand to determine payment amounts. The March stimulus law, however, gives these federal agencies until Dec. 31, 2021, to send out all the third checks. That gives the IRS room to process 2020 tax returns and square up payments for those who are owed plus-up amounts, folks who filed for a 2020 tax extension and other groups, like people who moved or don’t have a fixed address (such as people experiencing homelessness).
If all or part of your stimulus check doesn’t arrive by the end of the year, you’ll need to claim missing money via a 2021 tax return in April 2022, a year from now. This would be similar to the Recovery Rebate Credit for claiming missing money from the first two checks, which is currently in effect for 2020 taxes.
Stimulus check payments made to date
| Direct deposit | Paper checks | EIP Card | Direct Express Card | Plus-up | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of payments March 17 to May 12 | 137.3 million ($331 billion) | 21.8 million ($48.4 billion) | 5 million ($11 billion) | 3.1 million | 4.1 million ($7.5 billion) |
| No. of payments May 19 and 26 | 900,000 ($1.6 billion) | 900,000 ($1.9 billion) | – | – | 900,000 ($1.6 million) |
| No. of payments June 2 and 9 | 1.2 million ($2.2 billion) | 1.1 million ($2 billion) | – | – | 1.1 million ($2.5 billion) |
If the IRS owes you money for the first two stimulus checks
Plus-up payments are going out weekly along with the third round of checks, but they may not be the only money you’re due. For money missing from the first two checks, you need to claim that on your 2020 taxes. We suggest making sure you also know where to find your adjusted gross income. Tax nonfilers may need to be proactive about claiming a new dependent, too.
Millions could end up receiving a smaller stimulus check than they’re owed.
What SSI, SSDI recipients and veterans need to know
Veterans receiving VA benefits and people who get SSDI and SSI benefits are now receiving stimulus checks from the IRS and Treasury. Delivery details should now be available in the Get My Payment tool.
You might get your stimulus money by direct deposit to existing Direct Express cards if this is how you normally receive benefits, and if you didn’t file taxes in 2019 or 2020. Otherwise, the money could come in the mail. (Here’s what to look for so you know it’s legit.) The SSA says that Social Security beneficiaries like SSI and SSDI groups will not receive an EIP debit card.
If you’re a tax nonfiler and used the IRS’ Non-Filers tool by November 2020 to submit information, you may have already received your check.
Watch this:
Stimulus check 3: How much money you’ll get
2:32
Other exceptions and rules
Stimulus checks aren’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all situation. Here are guides for:
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