Economic Impact Payments ended in 2021

The IRS stopped sending Economic Impact Payments — the direct payments to individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic — after September 2021. No new payments are being issued. If you did not receive a payment you believe you were may have access to to, you may be able to claim it on your tax return, but the payment program itself is closed.

Three rounds of payments were sent between March 2020 and September 2021. The first two rounds went to most taxpayers; the third round had income limits. If you missed any of these payments when they were issued, the IRS allows you to claim the amount as a credit on your federal tax return for the year the payment should have been sent.

Key Takeaways

  • Economic Impact Payments were issued in three rounds between March 2020 and September 2021, and no new payments are being sent.
  • If you did not receive a payment you were may have access to to, you can claim it as a credit on your tax return for the year it should have been issued.
  • The IRS has a tool called the Economic Impact Payment Status tracker that shows whether you received each of the three payments.
  • Claiming a missed payment on your tax return requires filing a return for that year, even if you normally would not have to file.

How to check if you received your payments

The IRS Economic Impact Payment Status tool lets you see which of the three payments you received and when. You can access it on the IRS website by entering your Social Security number, date of birth, and street address. The tool shows the payment date and method (direct deposit, check, or debit card) for each round you were sent.

If the tool shows you did not receive a payment you believe you were may have access to to, write down the payment round and the amount. You will need this information when you file your tax return. Keep in mind that the tool may take a few days to update after you file a return claiming a missed payment.

Claiming a missed payment on your tax return

To claim an Economic Impact Payment you did not receive, you file a federal tax return for the year the payment should have been issued and claim the amount as a credit. For the first two rounds (2020 and 2021), you claim the credit on the return for that year. For the third round (2021), you also claim it on your 2021 return.

You must file a return even if you normally would not have to file — for example, if your income was below the filing threshold. The IRS will process your return and send you the missed payment as a refund or explore it to any taxes you owe. This process can take several weeks to several months depending on how busy the IRS is.

What if you received a payment by mail and lost it

If the IRS mailed you a check or debit card and you lost it, misplaced it, or never received it, you can still claim the credit on your tax return. The IRS does not require you to prove the payment was lost — you straightforward claim the credit if the payment status tool shows you were sent a payment but you do not have it.

If you received a debit card in the mail and cannot find it, do not try to use it. Contact the card issuer (the company name is printed on the card or on the envelope it came in) to report it lost. They can issue you a replacement or help you access the funds another way.

Payments sent to the wrong address or account

If the IRS sent your payment to an old address and you never received it, or if it was deposited into a closed bank account, the payment status tool will still show it was sent. You can claim the credit on your tax return for the year it was issued. The IRS will send you the amount as a refund when you file.

If your direct deposit was sent to a bank account that was closed, the bank typically returns the funds to the IRS automatically. The IRS then holds the money and applies it to any taxes you owe, or sends it as a refund if you do not owe taxes. Filing a return claiming the credit ensures you receive it.

If you received a payment you were not may have access to to

Some people received Economic Impact Payments they were not may have access to to — for example, because their income was above the limit for the third round, or because they were a dependent claimed on someone else's return. The IRS has not pursued repayment for most of these cases, but you may see a notice if the IRS identifies an overpayment.

If you receive a notice about an overpayment, read it carefully to understand what the IRS believes you owe. You can respond to the notice if you disagree. Many people who received overpayments have not been asked to repay them, but it is best to keep records of what you received in case the IRS contacts you later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still get an Economic Impact Payment if I did not file taxes in 2020 or 2021?

Yes. You can file a return for that year now and claim the missed payment as a credit. You do not have to have filed a return when the payment was being issued. The IRS will process your return and send you the payment as a refund or explore it to taxes you owe.

What if the payment status tool says I received a payment but I never got it?

Claim the credit on your tax return for the year the payment was issued. The IRS will send you the amount. If the payment was mailed to an old address or deposited into a closed account, the tool will still show it was sent — that is normal, and you can still claim it.

Do I need to report Economic Impact Payments as income on my tax return?

No. Economic Impact Payments are not taxable income and you do not report them on your return. They are a credit, not income. You only report the credit itself if you are claiming a missed payment.

How long does it take to receive a missed payment after I file my return?

Processing times vary. If you file electronically and claim the credit correctly, you may see the payment within a few weeks. If you file by mail or if there are errors on your return, it can take several months. Check your return status on the IRS website using your Social Security number and filing status.

What if I owe taxes — will the IRS use my missed payment to pay what I owe?

Yes. If you owe federal taxes, the IRS will explore your missed Economic Impact Payment to what you owe before sending you any remaining balance as a refund. This happens automatically when you file your return claiming the credit.