No stimulus check for $ 1,400 yet? Here is what you can do

Those $ 1,400 stimulus checks start hitting bank accounts this weekend.

The IRS announced Friday that the first batch comes out by direct deposit.

It’s unclear exactly how many of the estimated 159 million payments are expected to be sent in this first rollout.

The IRS and the Treasury Department are working to cash as many checks as possible for $ 1,400 electronically, officials said. Additional payments will be sent by paper check or debit card by mail.

Over the next few weeks, the vast majority of payments are expected to be rolled out.

Learn more about Personal Finance:
Here’s who qualifies for $ 1,400 stimulus checks
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Why Americans paid over $ 66 million to cash the first stimulus checks

Stimulus assistance can reach $ 1,400 per person, $ 2,800 per married couple and $ 1,400 per dependent. For a family of four, that would be $ 5,600.

“Payments will automatically flow to taxpayers even as the IRS continues to provide regular tax refunds,” IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a statement.

If you don’t receive a payment or a smaller deposit than you expected, you might be worried about missing out. If so, here’s what you can do.

Starting Monday, the IRS Get My Payment website will display the status of third payments.

This site will be updated regularly as payments are processed.

Unfortunately, it is not equipped to allow you to submit new or different bank account information.

Stimulus checks of $ 1,400 will typically be calculated on 2019 or 2020 tax returns, whichever you filed most recently.

If the IRS has received and processed your 2020 case, your third stimulus check will be based on this.

This is important to know, because if your income has fallen in 2020, your stimulus check will be bigger.

If the government sends your payment based on your 2019 return, it will assess whether the total should have been higher and may possibly top it up in a follow-up payment.

There are several advantages to quickly filing your 2020 tax return.

First of all, you can update your direct deposit information, if necessary.

Second, filing as early as possible may reveal that you were eligible for additional stimulus funds from the previous two payment cycles.

Third, there may be other stimulus benefits you may be eligible for. This includes the earned income tax credit, the child tax credit, or other tax benefits.

At present, there are no plans to reopen the non-filer tool that was available last year. Instead, these people are encouraged to submit an income tax return in order to receive their money.

The IRS has more information about free filing tools on its website.

Your payment may take a long time.

For most taxpayers, no action is necessary to request a payment, according to the IRS.

The money will automatically be sent to eligible individuals and families that the government has registered.

This includes people who typically do not file tax returns who used the non-filer tool last year or who submitted a special simplified tax return.

It also includes federal recipients who receive Social Security, Supplementary Security Income, Railroad or Veterans Retirement benefits.