Update your bank details directly with the IRS or your state tax agency

If you need to change the checking account where a stimulus payment will land, you have two main routes: update your information with the IRS before the payment is issued, or contact your bank after the payment arrives if it went to the wrong account. The fastest option depends on whether you know the payment is coming and how much time you have before it ships.

For federal stimulus checks, the IRS uses the bank account information from your most recent tax return. If that account is closed, inactive, or no longer yours, you need to update it before the payment processes. State stimulus payments work the same way — they pull from your last state tax filing. Once a payment has already been sent to an old account, the process to recover it is slower and involves your bank's fraud department.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS pulls bank account information from your most recent federal tax return, so updating your return is the primary way to change where a stimulus check lands.
  • You can update your bank details through the IRS's Get My Payment tool, your state tax agency's website, or by filing an amended return if the payment has not yet been issued.
  • If a stimulus payment was already sent to a closed or wrong account, contact your bank's fraud or customer service department to trace and recover the funds.
  • State stimulus payments use the same bank account from your state tax return, so you may need to contact your state revenue office separately to update that information.
  • Keep your bank account information current on file with both the IRS and your state to avoid delays or misdirected payments in future years.

Using the IRS Get My Payment tool to update your account

The IRS's Get My Payment tool is the fastest way to update your checking account for a federal stimulus payment that has not yet been sent. You can access it at irs.gov by searching "Get My Payment" or going directly to the payment status portal. The tool shows you whether a payment has been issued, when it will arrive, and — if it has not shipped yet — gives you the option to change the bank account or mailing address.

To use Get My Payment, you will need your Social Security number, date of birth, and street address as it appears on your most recent tax return. The tool will ask you to verify your identity, usually by answering security questions based on your credit file or by entering information from a recent tax return. Once you are logged in, select the option to update your payment method and enter your new checking account number, routing number, and account holder name. The change takes effect immediately, but only if the payment has not already been processed for delivery.

If Get My Payment tells you the payment has already been issued or is pending, you cannot change the account through that tool. In that case, move to the section below on recovering funds from a wrong account.

Filing an amended return if the payment has not been issued

If Get My Payment is not available or you prefer to update your information through a tax filing, you can file an amended return using Form 1040-X. This works only if the stimulus payment has not yet been sent — once it ships, an amended return will not stop it from going to the old account. An amended return takes four to six weeks to process, so this method is slower than using Get My Payment but works if you do not have access to the online tool.

On Form 1040-X, enter your new bank account information in the direct deposit section, the same place you would put it on a regular tax return. Mail the form to the IRS address for your state (listed in the Form 1040-X instructions). Include a note explaining that you are updating your bank account for an upcoming stimulus payment. The IRS will process the amended return and use the new account information if the payment has not already been released.

Contacting your state tax agency for state stimulus payments

State stimulus payments — which some states issued separately from federal payments — use the bank account information from your state tax return, not your federal return. If you need to update your account for a state payment, contact your state's revenue or tax department directly. Most states have an online portal similar to Get My Payment where you can update your information, or you can call the department and speak to a representative.

Find your state tax agency by searching "[your state] department of revenue" or "[your state] tax commission." Their website will have a section for stimulus payments or payment status, usually with a link to update your information. Have your Social Security number, date of birth, and the account and routing numbers for your new checking account ready. If your state does not have an online update tool, you may need to file an amended state return or call to request the change by phone.

Recovering funds sent to a closed or wrong account

If a stimulus payment was already sent to a checking account that is closed, frozen, or no longer yours, the money does not disappear — it will either be returned to the IRS or held by the bank. Your first step is to contact the bank where the payment was sent and explain that a federal or state payment landed in an account you no longer control. Ask the bank's customer service or fraud department to trace the deposit and tell you its status.

If the account is closed, the bank will typically return the payment to the IRS within 30 days. Once the IRS receives it back, they will reissue the payment to the address on file or hold it until you contact them. If the account is still open but belongs to someone else, the bank may be able to reverse the deposit and return it to the IRS, though this depends on the bank's policies and how long ago the deposit occurred.

After the bank has traced the payment, contact the IRS directly at 800-829-1040 to report the issue and provide your correct bank account information. Have your Social Security number, the date the payment was sent, and your new account details ready. The IRS can then reissue the payment to your correct account, though this process typically takes two to four weeks.

What to do if you do not have a checking account

Stimulus payments are issued by direct deposit to a checking or savings account whenever possible, but if you do not have a bank account, the IRS will mail a paper check to your address on file. You cannot force the IRS to mail a check instead of using direct deposit — the agency decides based on the information in its system — but you can ensure your mailing address is correct by updating it through Get My Payment or by contacting the IRS.

If you want to open a checking account before a stimulus payment arrives, you have time to do so and update your information. Most banks can open an account online in minutes and issue a routing number and account number immediately. Once you have those details, use Get My Payment to update your information, and the next payment will go to your new account. If you receive a paper check instead, you can deposit it at any bank or check-cashing service.

Keeping your bank information current to avoid future delays

The easiest way to handle stimulus payments and other government deposits is to keep your checking account information current with both the IRS and your state tax agency. Update your bank details whenever you open a new account, close an old one, or switch banks. You can do this by filing your annual tax return with the correct information, or by updating your information directly through the IRS or state portals even if you are not filing a return that year.

If you move to a new state, update your address with both the IRS and your new state's tax agency. This ensures that state-specific payments and tax documents reach you and that your bank account information stays linked to the correct filing. Keeping this information current takes a few minutes but prevents weeks of delays if a payment is misdirected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I update my bank account after a stimulus payment has already been sent?

No, you cannot stop a payment that has already been issued. However, if it went to the wrong account, contact that bank's customer service to trace it and request a reversal. Once the bank returns the funds to the IRS, you can provide your correct account information and the IRS will reissue the payment.

How long does it take for the IRS to reissue a stimulus payment to a new account?

After you report the issue and provide your correct account information, the IRS typically reissues the payment within two to four weeks. If you filed an amended return instead, allow four to six weeks for processing before the payment is sent.

What if Get My Payment says my payment status is not available?

This usually means the payment has already been issued or the IRS does not have a record of it yet. Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to check the status and provide your correct account information. They can tell you whether the payment was sent and help you recover it if it went to the wrong account.

Do I need to update my account information for both federal and state stimulus payments?

Yes, if your state issued a separate stimulus payment. Federal and state tax systems do not share bank account information, so you may need to update your details in both places. Check your state's tax agency website to see if a state payment was issued and whether you need to update your account there.

What happens if I update my bank account but the payment was already mailed as a check?

If the IRS mailed a paper check before you updated your account, the check will still arrive at your address on file. You can deposit it at any bank or check-cashing service. Future payments will go to your updated account if you keep that information current.