The Internal Revenue Service has relaunched a tool that will help Americans track the second stimulus payment that began being distributed last week.
The Get My Payment tool was reopened on Monday, offering a way to check on the $600 stimulus checks passed last month.
The first checks were sent electronically beginning on Dec. 29, and the first paper checks, for those for whom the IRS does not have electronic banking information on file, began going out on Dec. 30.
If you are wondering what you have to do to get your check, relax. According to the IRS website, you do not have to take any action to get the second payment.
“Payments are automatic for eligible taxpayers who filed a 2019 tax return, those who receive Social Security retirement, survivor or disability benefits (SSDI), Railroad Retirement benefits as well as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Veterans Affairs beneficiaries who didn’t file a tax return,” according to the IRS.
Those eligible will receive a payment of up to $600 for singles and up to $1,200 for married couples, plus $600 for each qualifying child under age 17 in the household.
Generally, if you have adjusted gross income for 2019 up to $75,000 for individuals, up to $112,500 for head of household filers, and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns, you will receive the full second payment amount.
For filers with income above those amounts, the payment is reduced.
If you did not file a return, you will still automatically get a payment if you registered for the first payment online at IRS.gov using the agency’s “Non-Filers” tool, or if you submitted a simplified tax return that has been processed by the IRS.
You must have registered by Nov. 21, 2020. The non-filers tool is now closed.
According to the IRS, even if you didn’t file a tax return and didn’t register with the IRS.gov non-filers tool last year, you are still eligible for a payment.
You won’t receive an automatic payment now, but you will be able to claim the “Recovery Rebate Credit” when you file your 2020 federal income tax return. You can claim the same amount as you would have gotten in a direct payment check.
Those who used the tax preparation company H&R Block may have experienced a delay in receiving their second stimulus check, but the company is working on it.
According to the company, H&R Block customers who used the Refund Transfer option for their 2019 income tax returns could see the stimulus payment sent to a temporary account, one with an account the customer does not recognize.
The company says it has addressed the problem and the check will be directed to the method of payment the customer chose.
If you are unsure about the amount of your stimulus check, you can use this calculator to see if you are eligible for the payment.