Stimulus check timeline update: 7 things to know before the IRS sends payments - CNET

Do you really know how your stimulus check will arrive? Could tax season throw a wrench in the plan? Here's what you should know.

Stephen Shankland/CNET

If President Joe Biden signs the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill on Friday as planned, it's possible that the IRS will be able to process the first batch of stimulus checks to go out a week later -- at least if you follow the timeline laid out from December's $600 check. But the $600 payment didn't happen smack in the middle of the IRS' busy tax season, and it didn't have a completely new stimulus check equation to follow, one that imposes a firm income limit to "target" the new checks. In addition, the new stimulus check for up to $1,400 per person doesn't have the same deadline pressure the second payment did to process over a hundred million payments. 

While a "large number of Americans" can expect to "receive relief by the end of the month," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday, the exact date the first wave of checks would start going out is still unknown. The pressure is on new Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to quickly send the third stimulus check, but what happens if there's a delivery problem, or you don't get all the money you're owed?   

If the IRS switches your payment group around -- which happened with the second check -- would you get your stimulus money sooner, or be part of a later wave? What if a rule change means it winds up being garnished? We'll walk you through what we know. This story was recently updated with new information.

The March stimulus check delivery window is just a beginning

If the bill becomes law on March 12 as planned, tens of millions of direct deposit recipients could receive a check before April 1 -- but maybe not all. People who receive their payment as physical checks and EIP cards should expect for the IRS to process their checks after the direct deposit folks, and the stimulus money could take weeks to actually arrive. 

 Any additional complication also could delay your payment. The schedule below reflects our best guesses, based on the IRS' timeline for the $600 stimulus check and the date Biden says he'll sign the bill. The timeline isn't final, and we'll continue to update with information as we learn more.

Stimulus check: Potential delivery dates (these could change)

Stimulus check passed Congress	Wednesday, March 10	Wednesday, March 10
Stimulus bill signed into law	Friday, March 12	Friday, March 12
First direct deposit check sent	Week of March 22	Week of March 29
First paper checks sent	Week of March 29	Week of April 5
First EIP cards sent	Week of April 5	Week of April 12
IRS deadline to finish sending checks	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021
Claims for missing stimulus money open	Likely 2022	Likely 2022

Your stimulus check could arrive weeks after the 'start' date

What we learned from the first two checks is that how you get your stimulus money often dictates when you get it. Roughly, this is broken into three groups:

• Direct-deposit recipients: Typically got their stimulus money in the first wave. But both times there were issues involving deposits going to temporary accounts that were rejected by banks. In some cases, these people got paper checks or EIP cards instead, or had to wait for the issue to resolve.
• Paper checks: This is the payment type the IRS sent out second. This method can take weeks to arrive by mail, but the check can be deposited or cashed right away.
• EIP cards: This payment type arrives as a prepaid debit card you must activate online to use. The IRS issued EIP cards last, delaying receipt for this recipient group by weeks.

Remember, it takes time for the IRS to process the well over 100 million payments expected in this third round of checks. Even tiny errors could cause a delay in you receiving your full or partial payment. (Here's more information for SSDI and SSI recipients, and other nonfilers.)

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The IRS could switch up your payment group... again

Just because you got your check through direct deposit the first two times doesn't necessarily mean you'll get it that way again. A lot depends on delivery going smoothly, and on any processing issues the IRS or Treasury could encounter with your case. (See below for tips on how you could speed up delivery.)

With the second stimulus checks, the IRS told CNET in January that some people who received a physical check or EIP card the first time may have been paid by the other method the second time around. And, anecdotally, we learned of people who received direct deposit payments the first time finally getting an EIP card in the mail -- and not an electronic bank transfer -- weeks after the IRS tool said the payment was issued. 

The other payment groups loosely defined (by us) include Social Security beneficiaries who received payments a different way the first time if they're part of the SSI or SSDI programs, and people with more complex scenarios that could lead to potential issues or holdups receiving their money. People in different child support situations are one example we've seen, as are people who are incarcerated and people with complex citizenship scenarios.

The IRS has nearly 300 days to send your check before the new cutoff

The IRS and Treasury have until Dec. 31, 2021, to complete sending out the third stimulus checks. That's good news in the sense that it's a far cry from the 17-day window back the agencies had from the December stimulus bill. On the other hand, it also means some people may find themselves waiting, for any reason. 

There's still so much we don't know about how the IRS will juggle tax season and processing the new checks, and how the agency will deal with any fringe issues that arise. 

How you get your second stimulus check could influence how soon your payment arrives.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Stimulus checks will be based on the tax return the IRS has processed

Taxes are due April 15, and although IRS has been lobbied to extend the tax due date, that doesn't appear likely this year. So how will the IRS figure out how much it owes you? It will calculate your total (you can also do that here) based on the most recent tax filing it's processed by the time it's ready to tabulate your check.

That means if you filed your 2020 taxes early, but the IRS mostly stops what it's doing to process stimulus checks, your total might come out based on 2019's adjusted gross income, not 2020's, as intended. That presents complications if the difference between the two years disqualifies you from getting a third stimulus check. (Learn more about some of the stimulus check exceptions and catches here.)

If you get a partial check, you'll have to wait for the rest. It could be awhile

There are several reason the IRS could owe you stimulus money for the third round of checks. Maybe the agency processed your 2019 tax return instead of 2020 and there was a discrepancy. Or you had a baby in 2020 you still need to claim. Or a clerical error accidentally leaves out a new dependent. Maybe your payment never arrives or was accidentally garnished. 

Whatever the reason, the IRS may provide a way to file for missing stimulus money before the Dec. 31, 2021, deadline. If not, you might have to wait a year to claim it, until you file your 2021 taxes in 2022 (even if you're a nonfiler who isn't typically required to file taxes.)

The first two stimulus checks were nominally sorted by different payment groups, and one had a clear advantage over the others.

Sarah Tew/CNET

You might be able to help avoid a delay

While you won't have the final say, there may be a few things you can do to help speed up receipt of a third payment. For example, we recommend signing up for direct deposit with the IRS when you submit your 2020 tax return, if you ordinarily file taxes. 

If you already have an account, make sure your details are correct. We also suggest you try to file your taxes quickly. While you can file an extension to submit your taxes later (you'd still have to pay taxes owed now) whether that will help or hurt you may get a little complicated.

If you've moved recently, tell the IRS and USPS. Here are our other suggestions for how people can make it more likely they'll get their checks faster. Note that there could be some changes to qualifications that may not apply to a possible third stimulus check.

There are extra stimulus check details and exceptions for these groups

Stimulus checks aren't necessarily a one-size-fits-all situation. Here are additional guides for:

Here's everything you need to know about the third stimulus check, how to calculate your stimulus total and every other way the stimulus bill can bring you more money.

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