The IRS started sending the third Economic Impact Payments to eligible individuals in March 2021 and continued sending payments throughout the year as tax returns were processed. The IRS has issued all third Economic Impact Payments and related plus-up payments.
The IRS started sending the third stimulus payments in March 2021 and will continue to send them on a weekly basis as 2020 tax returns are processed. Payments will be sent to eligible people for whom the IRS did not have information to send a payment but who recently filed a 2020 tax return.
Second round of direct payments: December 2020-January 2021
The first payments, through direct deposit and paper checks with some later payments made by EIP 2 Cards, were issued between 29 December 2020 and 15 January 2021.
The IRS will automatically send a third stimulus payment to people who filed a 2019 or 2020 federal income tax return. People who receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad Retirement benefits, or veterans benefits will receive a third payment automatically, too.
The vast majority of the third stimulus payments were automatically delivered to taxpayers' bank accounts or via a check in the mail last spring. The payments were authorized by the American Rescue Plan in March 2021 and were meant to help people struggling financially because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
All third-round stimulus checks have been sent out, the IRS announced Wednesday. If you haven't received all of the money you are eligible for, you will need to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return. The third stimulus checks were technically advance payments of that credit.
COVID-19 Stimulus Checks for Individuals
The IRS issued three Economic Impact Payments during the coronavirus pandemic for people who were eligible: $1,200 in April 2020. $600 in December 2020/January 2021. $1,400 in March 2021.
When and how will the money be sent? Recipients may have seen a direct deposit pending in their bank account as early as December 29, but the funds became officially available January 4. Paper checks or debit cards will be sent to those who don't already have a bank account on file with the Internal Revenue Service.
You can check the status of both your first and second payments by using the Get My Payment tool, available in English and Spanish on IRS.gov. Unfortunately, because of an IRS error, millions of payments were sent to the wrong accounts and some may not have received their stimulus payment.
President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act on March 11, 2021. Provisions in the bill authorized a third round of stimulus checks worth $1,400 for each eligible person ($2,800 for couples), plus an additional $1,400 for each dependent.
The government has so far issued three rounds of stimulus checks. The first "economic impact payment" was worth up to $1,200 and given to low-income households in 2020. This was then followed by a second payment worth up to $600 at the beginning of 2021.
Use the IRS Get My Payment tool to track stimulus money
For the third stimulus check: It's worth visiting the IRS' online portal designed to track the status of your 2021 payment. Generally, it should tell you when your check will be processed and how you'll receive it: for example, as a paper check in the mail.
The second stimulus checks for the COVID-19 relief package are set to total $600 per person, with phase outs based on adjusted gross income limits that are similar to the first relief package. Families also get additional $600 payments for each qualifying dependent under age 17.
Who Qualifies for the Third Stimulus Payments? Generally, if you're a U.S. citizen (or U.S. resident alien) and not a dependent of another taxpayer, you qualify for the full third stimulus payment. In addition, your adjusted gross income (AGI) can't exceed: $150,000 for married filing jointly.
Eligible taxpayers will receive an economic impact payment of up to $1,200 for individuals or $2,400 for married couples. Up to $500 is provided for each qualifying child who is a dependent under 17.
Since March 12, when the first checks went out, the government has sent out over $400 billion in stimulus payments. Of the 2.2 million payments, 1.3 million went to people who the IRS didn't have current contact information.
You're eligible for a $600 payment if you've been a California resident for more than half of the 2020 tax year (you must still be a California resident on the date the payment is issued). You need to also meet the following requirements: You filed your 2020 taxes by Oct. 15, 2021.
To be eligible for a full payment, your adjusted gross income could not be above certain thresholds: $75,000 for individuals, $112,500 for heads of household or $150,000 for married couples.
If you don't sign up for direct deposit after your initial payment is returned to the IRS, it will take even longer to receive your third stimulus check. In that case, the IRS won't reissue your payment until it receives an updated address (e.g., by filing a 2020 tax return or notifying the IRS).
Congress passed a third stimulus payment package last week, and some direct deposits started to go out over the weekend of March 13-14. The new checks are for up to $1,400 per person and $1,400 per dependent (children or older adult dependents). Those who file joint returns will get up to $2,800.
To confirm the amount of your 2021 stimulus payments, use IRS Letter 6475, Your Third Economic Impact Payment, which was mailed to recipients earlier this year. It includes the full amount of your stimulus check money including "plus-up" payments.
As of July 2022, the federal government doesn't appear to have any plans to send a fourth stimulus check to all U.S. residents.
As a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic, the US government has launched three stimulus check payments during 2020 and 2021.