What "Get My Payment" means and who uses it

"Get My Payment" is the IRS tool that lets you check the status of a tax refund or economic impact payment (stimulus check) the federal government has sent you. You enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and filing status, and the tool tells you whether the payment has been mailed, deposited to your bank account, or is still being processed.

The tool is free and lives on the IRS website. It does not work for child tax credit payments, advance payments on the earned income tax credit, or other tax-related money — only for refunds and the one-time payments the government issued during the pandemic. If you are looking for a different kind of payment, you may need to contact your bank, your employer, or the agency that sent it.

You can check your payment status as many times as you want. The information updates once per day, usually overnight. Checking multiple times in the same day will show you the same information.

Key Takeaways

  • Get My Payment shows you whether your IRS refund or stimulus payment has been mailed, deposited, or is still processing — nothing else.
  • You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, and mailing address to use the tool.
  • The tool updates once per day, so checking it multiple times the same day will not show new information.
  • If the tool says your payment was mailed but you never received it, you can file a claim with the IRS or contact your bank.
  • Get My Payment does not work for child tax credits, advance earned income credit payments, or payments from other government agencies.

How to access Get My Payment on the IRS website

Go to irs.gov and search for "Get My Payment" in the search box at the top of the page. The tool will appear as the first result. Click on it to open the page.

You will see a box labeled "Get My Payment Tool" with a blue button that says "Check Your Payment Status." Click that button. The IRS will ask you to confirm you are not a robot by solving a CAPTCHA (usually selecting images or typing distorted letters). After you pass that check, you will move to the login screen.

You do not need to create an IRS account or log in with an existing account. Instead, you will enter information directly into the tool: your Social Security number, date of birth, and the mailing address on file with the IRS. The tool will then search for payments associated with that information and show you what it finds.

What information the tool will show you

Get My Payment displays one of three statuses for each payment it finds. "Payment Status Not Available" means the IRS is still processing your return or payment and does not yet have status information to show. This is normal if you filed recently or if the IRS is reviewing your return. Check back in a few days.

"Payment Scheduled" means the IRS has approved your payment and set a date to send it. The tool will show you that date and the method — direct deposit to your bank account or a check mailed to your address. Direct deposits usually arrive within one to two business days of the date shown. Checks typically arrive within seven to ten business days, though mail delays can extend that.

"Payment Sent" means the IRS has already sent your payment. If it was direct deposited, it should be in your bank account. If it was mailed as a check, it is on its way or may have already arrived. The tool will show you the date the payment was sent and the method used.

What to do if the tool says your payment was mailed but you did not receive it

If Get My Payment shows your check was sent more than ten business days ago and you still have not received it, the check may have been lost in the mail, sent to an old address, or stolen. Start by checking with your bank to see if the payment was deposited by mistake. If your bank has no record of it, contact the IRS directly.

You can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 (the main customer service line) and ask them to trace the check. Have your Social Security number, the date the payment was sent, and the amount ready when you call. The IRS can file a tracer request, which takes about four weeks. If the check is not found, the IRS will issue a replacement.

You can also file a claim for a missing check by mail. read Form 3911 (Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund) from irs.gov, fill it out, and mail it to the address shown on the form. Include a copy of Get My Payment showing the payment was sent. The IRS will respond within four to six weeks.

Why Get My Payment might not show your payment

The tool only tracks refunds and one-time economic impact payments from the federal government. It does not show child tax credit payments, advance earned income tax credit payments, state refunds, or payments from other agencies. If you are looking for one of those, you will need to contact the agency that sent it or check your state tax authority's website.

Get My Payment also will not show a payment if you entered incorrect information. Double-check that your Social Security number, date of birth, and mailing address are exactly as they appear on your tax return or in IRS records. If you recently moved and updated your address with the IRS, the tool may still show your old address for a few days while the system updates.

If you filed a joint return, the tool will show payments associated with the Social Security number you enter. If you and your spouse received separate payments, you will need to check each Social Security number separately to see both payments.

Direct deposit versus check: what the tool tells you

Get My Payment will tell you which method the IRS used to send your payment. Direct deposit means the money went straight to a bank account. The IRS sends the payment to the account you listed on your tax return. If you changed banks or closed that account after filing, the payment may be returned to the IRS, and you will receive a check instead by mail.

Check means the IRS mailed a physical check to your address. Checks are slower than direct deposits — they take seven to ten business days to arrive under normal conditions, longer if mail is delayed. If you prefer direct deposit in the future, you can update your banking information on your next tax return.

If Get My Payment shows direct deposit but you do not see the money in your account after two business days, contact your bank. The payment may have been rejected because the account was closed or the routing number was wrong. Your bank can tell you what happened and whether the IRS needs to resend it as a check.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Get My Payment to check on a payment from a state tax return?

No. Get My Payment only works for federal IRS refunds and stimulus payments. To check on a state tax refund, visit your state's tax authority website. Most states have their own refund tracking tool, and you will need your Social Security number and the amount of the refund you expect.

What if Get My Payment says "Payment Status Not Available"?

This means the IRS is still processing your return or payment. Check back in three to five days. If the status does not change after a week, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to ask whether your return is under review or if there is a problem with your filing.

Do I need an IRS account to use Get My Payment?

No. You do not need to create or log into an account. The tool asks for your Social Security number, date of birth, and mailing address, and searches for payments based on that information. You can use it without signing up for anything.

Why does Get My Payment keep showing the same information even though I checked it today?

The tool updates once per day, usually overnight. If you check it multiple times in the same day, you will see the same status. Wait until the next day to see updated information. Checking it more often will not speed up your payment or change the information shown.

Can I use Get My Payment to track a payment someone else received?

No. The tool only shows payments for the Social Security number you enter. If you are checking on a payment for a spouse, child, or dependent, you will need their Social Security number and date of birth. Each person must check their own payment status separately.