When the IRS announced last week they were accelerating the economic stimulus payment schedule, it caused a lot of confusion. Since then, a lot of people have asked me when they will receive their economic stimulus rebate from the government. I have done my best to answer as many questions as possible, but I do not have all the answers. This post has the most accurate information as of the date it was published, and all information was sourced from the IRS website.
Everything you need to know about the economic stimulus payments
On May 1st, the IRS updated their Economic Stimulus Information Center page, which has just about everything you might want to know about the economic stimulus rebates, including:
- When? official stimulus payment schedule,
- How Much? the official stimulus rebate calculator (this calculator has been removed from the IRS website),
- Where is my rebate? and the stimulus payment tracker.
I have highlighted some of the information from those pages for you.
The Official IRS Payment Schedule
This is a copy of the official stimulus payment schedule from the IRS web page, as of May 1, 2008. Economic stimulus payments will be issued according to the last two-digits of the main filer’s Social Security number. For joint filers, the payments will go out based on the person listed first on the return. Payments will be made by either direct deposit or paper check, consistent with how people filed their 2007 tax return.
According to the IRS website, direct deposits will be made daily and will be completed by the date listed below (assuming your tax return was filed by the April 15 deadline):
Direct Deposit
| Last two SSN digits: | Payments will be transmitted no later than: |
| 00 through 20 | May 2 |
| 21 through 75 | May 9 |
| 76 through 99 | May 16 |
Paper checks will also go out based on Social Security number. For Social Security numbers ending in 00 through 09, the paper checks will be mailed starting May 9 and will continue through May 16. A similar process will be repeated in the following weeks.
Paper Check
| Last two SSN digits: | Payments will be mailed no later than: |
| 00 through 09 | May 16 |
| 10 through 18 | May 23 |
| 19 through 25 | May 30 |
| 26 through 38 | June 6 |
| 39 through 51 | June 13 |
| 52 through 63 | June 20 |
| 64 through 75 | June 27 |
| 76 through 87 | July 4 |
| 88 through 99 | July 11 |
Late filers. People who file a return after April 15 will receive their economic stimulus payment, but probably about two weeks later than the schedule shows. A return must be filed by October 15 in order to receive a stimulus payment this year.
The Official IRS Rebate Calculator
The web based stimulus rebate calculator is easy to use and takes about 5-10 minutes to complete. You will need a copy of the Form 1040 that you filed with the IRS. Then, follow the instructions. Don’t worry, the IRS doesn’t ask for any personal data such as your SSN, nor does it store any of your information when you use the calculator. All entries are erased when you exit or start over. Keep in mind, this is only an estimate, and is not “official” until you receive the check.
Where’s My Stimulus Payment? – The Official IRS Rebate Tracker
The IRS created a web based tool to help you track the status of your economic stimulus rebate. You will need to have your tax return handy because you will need to input some key information from your return, including your SSN, filing status, and number of exemptions. The tool will locate your information in the database and give you the status of your rebate.
Important note about rebate tracker: The IRS recommends using the Payment Schedule prior to using the payment tracker since your payment information will not be available on this tool until the time that your payment is scheduled.
More questions about the stimulus package?
For more details or frequently asked questions, read the Economic Stimulus Package Frequently Asked Questions, or visit the IRS Stimulus Payment Information Center.
Most importantly – be patient! The IRS is processing millions of rebates in an extremely short time period. There are bound to be a few speed bumps along the way. Good luck!
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my rebate should be processed by today (5/2) and i can’t get the ‘where’s my stimulus payment’ thing to work. it says there’s no information on our payment. what gives? should i really be checking on saturday instead?
Patrick,
Thanks for the update. I hope they send the money sooner, rather than later.
I am just so angry that this “earlier” announcment was made. I was fine with the date. I was then made to feel that it was coming sooner and I have foolishly been a little looser with actual cash money i do have in the last few days! I do believe this was done purposely because they understand the psychology of the human condition….especially working class folks! We are like lab rats to “them” Shame on whoever made that announcement. What I can tell the original dates are still basically in place. There is NO CHANGE in the schedule for my situation. which is efiler with the last two at 92. Was May 16th and guess what… STILL May 16th thanks government and media I now am in a bind for two weeks.!!
inoubliable, I think you should check with the rebate tracker tool later today, or tomorrow. My rebate is not scheduled until next Friday, so I haven’t tried it yet.
Barb, the government could have prevented some confusion by not announcing the earlier payments, but what’s done is done.
For everyone, I recommend not spending your rebate (or any other money) until you receive it.
Gee thanks Patrick for your commentary. duh clearly I know that. btw I didnt say I spent that money in advance. I just wasnt as careful in my choices.. example.. my daughter had a class trip actually today. I packed her lunch.. I bought the better smoked turkey for her sandwich and gave her two different snacks, where as without that percieved windfall coming soon, she would have had the kroger brand lunch meat and only a pudding cup LOL. Its been that type of overspending for me. I am the working lower middle class. any type of overspending can get me in trouble quickly. I will not apologize as I live a very disciplined life, I have to. The press,media and government though did give mixed signals and the perception was I swear by design knowing there would be tons of peeps like me, and again I am aware of my sin so to speak, but i will not apologize and the shame should be squarely placed on the media and government for this.
Barb, My comment was not meant to be judgmental; I understand everyone has a different financial situation. My comment was a general statement directed to anyone reading the comment, and not just you.
My husbands ss# ends in 07 which was the first ss# on our taxes but the link to check wheres my payment says it will come May 9th. this is a week later than the schedule says for 00-20. What is the problem?
Lona, I’m sorry, I don’t know the answer. I would contact the IRS.
What’s the best way to contact the IRS if you think your payment should have been deposited your account already but it hasn’t?
The last two numbers of my SSN are in the first group, and we got ours yesterday, the 1st. I believe they are, indeed, posting sooner as announced. It was a pleasant surprise for us. I never did discover the rebate tracker, a search only produces nonIRS websites, which I do not trust to enter my personal info into.
I got a heads up today that seniors who filed just to get the rebate (even though they have no income) will only get their rebate direct deposited if they filled out a second form asking for their bank info. If they didn’t, it will come as a paper check even if they get their monthly SSI check as an ACH deposit. This has been causing some confusion, but they will get it eventually.
Yup, the same here. We filed our Taxes in Feb, got the return direct deposit 7 days later and my ss # ends in 09…haven’t gotten any info from the online tracker, which is on the irs.gov website. I also called and did the over the phone tracker and got no info. It does give a note to wait for two weeks after your scheduled deposit date…. to worry! I also think they hyped up when those amounts would be deposited and how much we would get, we are getting less because we paid less than $1200 in taxes. They knew we would be banking on the money and spend more sooner, that’s just what they desperately want in order to “stimulate the economy” ASAP! SAVE YOUR CHECKS TO COVER YOUR GAS COST OVER THE NEXT MONTH, OR BUY A BIKE!!!
this is to BARB,
no one made you go out and spend money you don’t have, depending on money you have not gotten, YOU should only be MAD at YOURSELF, I mean why would you do a foolish thing like that anywhy, what it the government say they changed their mind there is no stimulus rebate what will you do then, my moma always told me “never count you chicks til they hatch”
Wow, you don’t have to be so hard on Barb. She owned her own mistake. She’s just obviously a conspiracy theorist, as am I! I only know one die hard republican who is backing Bush all the way after all of his crafty speeches and bright ideas! I can’t really blame anyone for getting upset by the last simple thing that Bush (along with the current state of government) has done- as it is only the straw that broke that back after 8 years of disappointments, our economy dying along with our family and friends…and for what? Truth be told, we really cannot be putting stock in a worldly kingdom/empire!
Of course it was meant to be judgmental and it was aimed at her. That is why you used her name, right? No sense in covering it up now.
I just get disability. The irs told me I did my return right(just for stimulus) and it will be direct deposited. No other forms required. This was told to me by 3 reps.
I am angry as well. At first they hype us up and say the refunds are coming sooner. Then they say oh nevermind you filed through some third party bank, now you have to wait another whole month. Its funny how the irs can give and then take right back in such a short notice. I believe atleast 75% of people filed through H&R and had them deduct the preparers fees from their refund. Well unfortunatly for us, my rebate date just went from may 2nd to june 20th..thanks alot irs, youre really killing us here. oh and p.s, gas sucks
I filed in early March, but owed $600+. I paid by check, but filled out the direct deposit info on my form, specifically to allow the stimulus payment to be direct deposited. Folks who don’t pay taxes can do this!!!! This is the same account I got my return deposited to last year and the same account that the check was drawn from. They cashed my check, but NO STIMULUS PAYMENT (08 social). I can’t get a human being on the toll free number.
Angrycitizen- how did you find out about the checks being 1.5 mos later if you went through a third party bank? I think that might be my situation too.
I should have received mine 5/2, also, and when I checked the tracker there was no info available over the weekend; however, when I checked today 5/5, there was a message with a later date posted to receive my check (5/16).
Polly, I completly understand. I too was suppose to get mine (17 ssn) on May 2. I have checked the info and I have no current information from the website. I love the comments about people criticizing others about frivoulous spending before this check. I tell you with gas prices here at $4 and getting no child support and no government help we all start thinking about paying whatever is needed with this money. I sympathize with everyone and logically agree with the “haters about spending” I couldn’t wait to be able to live without thinking, I’ll just wait for my tax return to catch everthing up, but here I am struggle without finacial support from anyone except myself saying, when is this going to post, I have rent, insurance, electricity, and food and would love not to stress for at least one month. Wasn’t that the purpose of the stimulus, to get people spending??? My theory, I can’t stress my bills will be late once again!!!!!
The last 2 digits of my ssn are 06. I filed using TurboTax in Feb. I payed the filing fees by credit card and had my refund direct deposited. Yet my stimulas payment is being issued by check on May 16th. What gives?
Angry citizen, are you saying that if you had your taxes filled out by H&R block and had the fees deducted from the refund, that the checks are coming out later? Where did you find this out because my last 2 digits of my ss# is 11 which I should have gotten my rebate last week and of course it never came and I check the website and it has no info. for me? This is crazy. I have been foolishy waiting for the check to find out it is goin to be 6 wks later!
I just checked the IRS “Where’s my Stimulus rebate” and it shows the $1800.00 to be direct deposited on 5/9/08. I filed via Turbo Tax…I paid the fee from a credit card.
I just called H and R Block and spoke with a Rep who states that if you paid for your taxes to be done from your refund check, then your stimulus payment will be sent in paper form, not direct deposit.
I think that they are just using any excuse they can to get checks out later than we were expecting them. By the time we get our stimulus payments, the people who already got theirs will have spent them giving a chunk back to the government in taxes and affording them to pay the rest of us! Very tricky!
When I filed my Tax return I knew that the State would keep my California State tax refund due to an overpayment from EDD. I got my federal tax return. Should I expect a Stimulus Check?
Pretty much the same here…no refund yet. I’m in group 1 (ssn ending in 12), and I expected the money on 5/2. The IRS “Where’s my Stimulus Rebate” states they can not find my information at this time (which worries me). I filed my taxes in February using Turbo Tax and direct deposit. I remember a 3rd party bank being involved so if what I read is true then maybe I won’t being “stimulating” the economy for another 4-6 weeks!
My last two digits are 01, I’m a single mom who has 2 boys and had direct deposit done through turo tax. I’m on the toll free number right now and I’ve been on hold for awhile. It’s ridiculous that with all the money they take from us, it’s so hard to give it back.
Hi can some body answer my ? i did my tax return with jackson hewitt and received a check from them. well i recive my my stimulate check by mail and till june.
Michele,
If you used Turbo Tax and direct deposit, then a 3rd party bank set up an account for your tax return to allow them to deduct Turbo Tax fees. The IRS will not send the rebate $$ to this account. If you used the direct deposit through Turbo Tax then you will have to wait for the paper check that will be mailed by the 16th of May for group 1. Here’s the link to Turbo Tax info on this: http://turbotax.intuit.com/support/kb/e-file/ef-status/1883.html
yeah basically if u didnt pay with a credit card for your preparers fees, the irs will not direct deposit your refund. they did not release this information till about 3 days before the first deadline. talk about the IRS being on top of things. If u used taxact, turbo tax, JH, or h & R and did not use a credit card for the fees, say hello to another 6 weeks of waiting.
oh and lets not forget that this stimulus rebate is the money we already paid to the IRS.
I am with the rest of you here. I am sick to my stomach over this whole thing. We did ours Direct Deposit the 20th of January and our DD came thru our bank on the 1st of February. We went thru our Accountant (we are self employeed) So our CPA always does our taxes. I didnt dream this was true that we would have to wait for a paper check when we were expecting it to be DD because we didnt pay him upfront he took it out of our taxes. My husband called his office today and they said not to worry that It would be DD just like our income taxes were. Now I dont know what to believe. I did the online stimulious info and it says no information. Could she be telling the truth or do you think maybe she dosent know what shes talking about. Im crazy now ……………. I wish I didnt know about it because we are desperate and I mean DESPERATE…..
My mom called me and asked me to check into the stimulus payment. She should have gotten it, but the site says no information given.
She is not happy being a tax payer for 40 years and the IRS has never had a problem taking her money, she asked, “why is there a problem giving back”?
I think Anna said it best, “By the time we get our stimulus payments, the people who already got theirs will have spent them giving a chunk back to the government in taxes and affording them to pay the rest of us! Very tricky!”
If it was one of us owing the IRS they would be very quick to come after us ready take everything we own.
The dumbest thing the IRS did was to release the schedule for the rebates. Without defining the multiple different roadblocks to the taxpayers actually receiving their rebates the IRS has given false hopes to most on the rebate time line. Unfortunately for most, you should go by the paper check “mailing” date even if you used direct deposit. “Mailing” date is key…it will be in the mail by that date. Not in your hands until a couple weeks later.
I definitely think that they should have informed us of the whole sending our checks by mail because of the 3rd party bank. At the same time, our direct deposit info is right on our tax forms, there is really no reason that they couldn’t use that info! They knew we would bank on the money, or they wouldn’t have sent out a schedule! God has taught me that it is not pleasing to him for me to rely on money that I don’t have.
My last 2 digits are 07. I checked the Where’s my payment and it says they’re processing it on May9th. WHY? Shouldn’t it have been May 2nd? I also had direct Deposit and it says “If you do not receive your check by June 6, 2008, please contact us again.” Is this a generic message everyone gets when trying to track your payment? Or is mine all messed up? Please help!!!
I found out that i owe some money to social security…I filed my taxes in feb w/ turbo tax and direct depost, My social is 02, and i havent seen the check yet? Do you think SSI got ahold of it, and kept it? I hope not
Interesting to find out now that if you used a thirdparty vendor that your payment can be delayed by months as is my case (last two of 82 paper checks send out in July vice May) but hey what can you do.
Mark -
I’m in the EXACT same boat as you! Mailed in my taxes (I owed $800) – check cleared. But still no rebate! What gives???
Melissa
The reason you are getting info now is your fisrt in line to receive a check and it will be mailed out the 9th. anyone who is not due to get a check mailed to them this week will receive the message that there is no info yet…
My spouse and I filed married separate on our income taxes. The last two of his ss# are 13 and he received his check Friday 5/2 direct deposit. The last two of my ss# are 02 and there is no information on my rebate check as of yet. I think this was a trick for the governement to have consumers like us be misled and overspend (expecting this extra money) and then get into a bind, this was not an economic booster, if anything it was an economic downer! I did not go over my budget due to the fact that I did not want to spend money I did not physically have IN MY ACCOUNT, but I know a lot of my neighbors and friends DID overspend because they were given a definate date that they were gonna receive their funds, and now they don’t know what to do. One of my friends is even overdrawn with her checking account because she expected the transactions to be posted no later than 5/5 and she has paid some bills that she did not have sufficient funds for. I know this is her own fault and it may have even been foolish, but we can’t help but trust when we the government gives us dates for things that are gonna happen. They give us a definate date for a deadline to file taxes and they sure dont forget about that!!!
I think it is all a big mess. Like someone before said, they should not have given a date if they were not going to oblige by it.
Well I am pretty fed up with this you are going to get your money on this day. Hubby’s numbers end in 01 we have always had our tax money put into our checking acct. well this year someone messed up and we are getting it buy check so it says to wait tell the 16th for them to send it out.Grr IRS
Josephine do you really believe that you are being tricked by the US government to overspend??? You are lucky that you are in a country where you can overspend what you make. Many places you cannot spend what you have IE no credit. So I really wish all the whining would quit and you all live within your means
Well, my SS# also ends in 12 and I filed at a tax preparer (I do believe they took their fee “from” the refund). It was done electronically with direct deposit, the regular tax refund came the following week!…but May 2, is long gone and I still don’t have my rebate! Have a long trip planned very soon, Shoot, I really hoped it would be here by now, drats!
I feel so much better after reading the comments posted here. My SS# is 17 & I always use Turbo Tax & direct deposit using SBB. I guess I’ll be waiting for a couple more weeks. The IRS certainly should have listed all of the reasons for delay instead of getting our hopes up for an automatic deposit on May 2. Money will be tight, but I didn’t overspend. Thank goodness!
My mom received her stimulus check last week, but the stimulus tracker does not have a record of her receiving it or when she will get it. I hope that makes clear that the irs tracker does not work for electronic deposits anyway.
For those asking the questions about third part banks and fees auto-deducted from returns: the info is right on the IRS site. IF you filed for a rapid refund, your tax went through a 3rd party bank–you will not recieve a direct deposit but a check…later. Same for those who had the filing fees deducted directly from their income tax return, and that would be most of us, no ?
Within the past week, my husband has had his wages garnished from a credit card that we’ve owed. Will they also be able to collect from the economic stimulus check along with his wages?
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