What a "me ank" search usually means
If you typed "me ank" into a search engine, you were probably looking for information about an Economic Impact Payment — the stimulus checks the IRS sent during 2020 and 2021. The search term itself is fragmented, but the question behind it is almost always the same: where is my payment, and when will it arrive?
Economic Impact Payments came in three rounds. The first went out starting in April 2020 ($1,200 per adult). The second arrived in December 2020 and January 2021 ($600 per adult). The third began in March 2021 ($1,400 per adult). If you did not receive one or more of these payments, or if you received less than you expected, there are specific steps to take and real tools the IRS provides to track what happened.
This guide covers how to learn about a payment was sent to you, where to look if it never arrived, and what to do if the amount was wrong.
Key Takeaways
- The IRS sent three rounds of Economic Impact Payments between April 2020 and December 2021, and you can check the status of each one using the IRS Get My Payment tool.
- Payments were sent by direct deposit, check, or debit card depending on the IRS records they had on file for you at the time each round was processed.
- If a check or debit card never arrived, the IRS can issue a replacement, but you must first confirm the original payment was actually sent to you.
- If you received less than the full amount you were may have access to to, you may be able to claim the difference on your tax return as a Recovery Rebate Credit.
- The IRS stopped processing new Economic Impact Payment claims in 2022, but you can still file a tax return to recover any missing amount.
How to check if a payment was sent to you
The Get My Payment tool is the official IRS tracker for all three rounds of Economic Impact Payments. You can access it on the IRS website at irs.gov. The tool asks for your Social Security number, date of birth, and street address. It then shows you the status of each payment: whether it was sent, the date it was sent, and the method (direct deposit, check, or debit card).
The Get My Payment tool is no longer accepting new inquiries as of 2022, but if you used it before that date, your payment history remains in your IRS account. If you have an IRS online account, you can log in and view your payment history there. If you do not have an account, you can create one at irs.gov using your Social Security number, email address, and a phone number.
Write down the exact date and method the tool shows for each payment. This information is critical if you need to file a claim or dispute with the IRS later.
What to do if a check or debit card never arrived
If the Get My Payment tool shows that a check or debit card was sent to you but you never received it, the IRS can issue a replacement. The process depends on how long ago the payment was sent. For checks sent more than a year ago, the IRS assumes they were lost or destroyed and will issue a replacement without requiring you to wait longer.
To request a replacement check or debit card, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Have your Social Security number, the date of birth on your tax return, and the address where the payment was supposed to be sent. The IRS representative will confirm the payment was sent and issue a replacement. Replacement checks typically arrive within two to three weeks. Replacement debit cards may take longer.
If you moved between the time the payment was sent and now, the check or card may have gone to your old address. Contact the post office for your old address and ask if they can forward mail. If the payment was sent to an address you never lived at, contact the IRS immediately — this may indicate identity theft or a filing error.
Direct deposit payments that went to the wrong account
If the Get My Payment tool shows your payment was sent by direct deposit but it never appeared in your bank account, the money may have gone to an old account you no longer use. This happened most often when the IRS used banking information from an old tax return or from a tax preparation service.
Contact the bank or credit union where the payment was supposed to land. Provide them with the exact date the IRS says the payment was sent. Ask them to search their records for a deposit from the IRS in that amount on or near that date. If they find it in an old account, ask them to help you trace what happened to the money.
If the bank confirms the deposit went to an old account that is now closed, the money may have been returned to the IRS. In that case, you can file a claim with the IRS by calling 1-800-829-1040 or by filing a tax return and claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit (see below).
Using the Recovery Rebate Credit if you missed a payment
If you did not receive one or more Economic Impact Payments, or if you received less than you were may have access to to, you can claim the missing amount on your tax return as a Recovery Rebate Credit. This credit is claimed on Form 1040 (the main individual income tax return) or Form 1040-SR (for people 65 and older).
To claim the credit, you need to know how much you should have received in each round. The amounts were $1,200 (first round), $600 (second round), and $1,400 (third round) per adult, plus $500 per child under 17. Subtract what you actually received from what you should have received. The difference is your Recovery Rebate Credit.
You can file a tax return for any year in which you did not receive the full payment you were may have access to to. If you normally do not file a return because your income is too low, you can still file just to claim this credit. The IRS will send you the credit as a refund. Filing a return to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit does not trigger an audit or any other IRS action — it is a straightforward claim for money owed to you.
What happens if you received more than you were may have access to to
If you received a larger payment than you should have — for example, because you were claimed as a dependent on someone else's return but also received a payment in your own name — the IRS may ask you to return the overpayment. However, the IRS has not aggressively pursued overpayments from individuals, and many people who received more than they were may have access to to have not been contacted.
If you receive a letter from the IRS about an overpayment, read it carefully. It will explain the reason for the overpayment and give you instructions on how to repay. You can repay in full or set up a payment plan. If you ignore the letter, the IRS may offset the overpayment against a future tax refund.
If you are unsure whether you were may have access to to a payment you received, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and ask. Providing accurate information now is easier than dealing with a letter later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still get an Economic Impact Payment if I did not file a tax return?
The IRS stopped sending new Economic Impact Payments in 2021. However, you can still recover any missing payment by filing a tax return and claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit. You have three years from the original payment date to file and claim the credit.
What if I was in prison or incarcerated when a payment was sent?
Incarcerated individuals were not may have access to to Economic Impact Payments. If you received one while incarcerated, the IRS may ask you to return it. If you have already spent the money, contact the IRS to discuss repayment options or a payment plan.
Do I need to report the Economic Impact Payment as income on my tax return?
No. Economic Impact Payments are not taxable income and should not be reported on your tax return. They do not reduce your refund or increase the taxes you owe.
How long does it take to get a replacement check after I request one?
Replacement checks typically arrive within two to three weeks of your request. Replacement debit cards may take longer. If you do not receive your replacement within four weeks, call the IRS again to confirm the request was processed.
What if I moved and the IRS sent my payment to my old address?
Contact your local post office and ask if they can forward mail from your old address. If the payment was sent before you moved, it may still be in the mail system. If the post office cannot locate it, request a replacement check from the IRS by calling 1-800-829-1040.