Who Won’t Get a Stimulus Check? You May Not Receive Your Payment Automatically

Stimulus Check Problems & IRS Payment FAQs

The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020, which was signed into law on December 27, 2020, provides a second stimulus check to most Americans. This check is for up to $600 per eligible individual, plus $600 for each qualified dependent child.

Many people have already begun to receive their stimulus check via Direct Deposit. For people who do not have Direct Deposit set up with the IRS, but who are automatically qualified to get a stimulus check, those payments have been scheduled to be mailed as paper checks starting on January 6, 2021.

There are a number of individuals who may not automatically qualify for a stimulus check, as well as people who are not eligible to receive a second stimulus check at all. Here are some common FAQs about the IRS payment process and stimulus check problems.

Will I Get a Second Stimulus Check?

In order to be eligible for a second stimulus check of up to $600, you must meet certain guidelines regarding your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) for the 2019 tax year. You are qualified to get the full amount $600 stimulus check if your income was below:

• $75,000 for Single filers
• $150,000 for Married Couples Filing a Joint Tax Return
• $112,500 for Heads of Household

If your income is above the thresholds listed, the amount of your stimulus check will be less than $600. Your payment will be decreased by $5 for each $100 of income you earned that exceeds $75,000 for single filers (or $150,000 for married couples filing jointly).

If your income is greater than $87,000 for single filers (or greater than $174,000 for a married couple that files jointly), then you are not eligible to receive a second stimulus check.

>> Find Out the Status of Your Stimulus Check

Get My Payment (GMP) Online Tool

The IRS published the following information on January 6, 2021:

“IRS updated Get My Payment (GMP) for individuals who are receiving the second Economic Impact Payment (EIP) on January 5, 2021. If you checked GMP on or after January 5 then:

• If GMP reflects a direct deposit date and partial account information, then your payment is deposited there.
• If GMP reflects a date your payment was mailed, it may take up to 3 – 4 weeks for you to receive the payment. Watch your mail carefully for a check or debit card. (See the FAQ for EIP Card)
• If GMP shows “Payment Status #2 – Not Available,” then you will not receive a second Economic Impact Payment and instead you need to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 Tax Return.

“Because of the speed at which the law required the IRS to issue the second round of Economic Impact Payments, some payments may have been sent to an account that may be closed or, is or no longer active, or unfamiliar. By law, the financial institution must return the payment to the IRS; they cannot hold and issue the payment to an individual when the account is no longer active. If Get My Payment shows “Payment Status #2 – Not Available” you will not receive a second EIP.

“The IRS advises people that if they don’t receive their Economic Impact Payment, they should file their 2020 tax return electronically and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their tax return to get their payment and any refund as quickly as possible.”

RELATED: Second Stimulus Checks: When, How, and How Much?

IRS: Payment Status #2 – Not Available

Many people have reported getting a message that reads “Payment Status Not Available” when they use the IRS “Get My Payment” online tool to find out the status of their stimulus check. According to the IRS, if you see this status when you use the “Get My Payment” tool, that means you will not be getting a second stimulus check automatically.

However, if you believe you are entitled to a stimulus check, you can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 tax return when you file it. For more information about claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 tax return, see Recovery Rebate Credit Available for Those Who Didn’t Get Stimulus Checks.

Why Am I Not Getting a Second Stimulus Check?

If you are not getting a $600 stimulus check, it is most likely because your income is above the eligibility threshold, which is based on your AGI from your 2019 federal tax return. If your filing status was “single,” then your 2019 AGI must be under $75,000. If your filing status was “married filing jointly,” then your 2019 AGI must be under $150,000. For people who filed as “head of household,” your 2019 AGI must be under $112,500 to qualify for a $600 stimulus check.

RELATED: New $600 Coronavirus Stimulus Checks

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