The Department of the Treasury and IRS have officially launched today the “Get My Payment” web application that allows taxpayers who filed their tax return in 2018 or 2019 but did not provide their banking information on their return to submit direct deposit information.
Once they do, the IRS states they will get their Economic Impact Payments in their bank accounts quickly, instead of waiting for a check to arrive in the mail.
“Get My Payment” will also allow taxpayers to track the status of their payment. The IRS said with the initial round of more than 80 million Economic Impact Payments starting to hit bank accounts over the weekend and throughout this week, this new tool will help address key common questions.
The online app that will display on any desktop, phone or tablet, and it does not need to be downloaded from an app store.
“Get My Payment will offer people with a quick and easy way to find the status of their payment and, where possible, provide their bank account information if we don’t already have it,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “Our IRS employees have been working non-stop on the Economic Impact Payments to help taxpayers in need. In addition to successfully generating payments to more than 80 million people, IRS teams throughout the country proudly worked long days and weekends to quickly deliver Get My Payment ahead of schedule.”
How to use Get My Payment
Available only on IRS.gov (go to: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment) taxpayers need a few pieces of information to quickly obtain the status of their payment and, where needed, provide their bank account information. The IRS recommends having a copy of their most recent tax return to help speed the process.
For taxpayers to track the status of their payment, this feature will show taxpayers the payment amount, scheduled delivery date by direct deposit or paper check and if a payment hasn’t been scheduled. They will need to enter basic information including:
- Social Security number
- Date of birth, and
- Mailing address used on their tax return.
Taxpayers needing to add their bank account information to speed receipt of their payment will also need to provide the following additional information:
- Their Adjusted Gross Income from their most recent tax return submitted, either 2019 or 2018
- The refund or amount owed from their latest filed tax return
- Bank account type, account and routing numbers
The IRS said Get My Payment cannot update bank account information after an Economic Impact Payment has been scheduled for delivery. To help protect against potential fraud, the tool also does not allow people to change bank account information already on file with the IRS.
A Spanish version of Get My Payment is expected in a few weeks.
Don’t normally file a tax return? Additional IRS tool helps non-filers
In addition to Get My Payment, the IRS has a second a new web tool allowing quick registration for Economic Impact Payments for those who don’t normally file a tax return.
The Non-filers: Enter Payment Info tool (go to: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here) provides a free option designed for people who don’t have a return filing obligation, including those with too little income to file.
Non-filers: Enter Payment Info is designed for people who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 and who don’t receive Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI), or survivor benefits and Railroad Retirement benefits.
No action needed by most taxpayers
The IRS said eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns for 2019 or 2018 will receive the payments automatically. Automatic payments will also go in the near future to those receiving Social Security retirement, or disability (SSDI), or survivor benefits and Railroad Retirement benefits.
General information about the Economic Impact Payments is available on a special section of IRS.gov: (go to: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center).
Watch out for scams related to Economic Impact Payments
The IRS urged taxpayers to be on the lookout for scams related to the Economic Impact Payments. To use the new app or get information, taxpayers should visit IRS.gov. People should watch out for scams using email, phone calls or texts related to the payments. The IRS will not send unsolicited electronic communications asking people to open attachments, visit a website or share personal or financial information.
More information
The IRS will post frequently asked questions on IRS.gov/coronavirus and will provide updates as soon as they are available.