You can track a stimulus check using your Social Security number through the IRS website or by phone

The IRS has a tool called "Get My Payment" that lets you look up the status of any stimulus payment sent to you during the COVID-19 pandemic. You enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and street address, and the tool tells you whether the payment was mailed, deposited to a bank account, or is still being processed. This works for all three rounds of stimulus payments issued between 2020 and 2021.

If you prefer not to use the website, you can also call the IRS directly at 1-800-919-9835. A representative can look up your payment status using your Social Security number over the phone. The line is available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS "Get My Payment" tool on irs.gov is the fastest way to check stimulus payment status using your Social Security number.
  • You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, and current street address to use the tracking tool.
  • The tool shows whether your payment was deposited to a bank account, mailed as a check, or is still pending.
  • If you cannot find your payment after checking the status, you may need to claim it on your tax return or contact the IRS directly.

How to use the IRS Get My Payment tool online

Go to irs.gov and search for "Get My Payment" or navigate directly to the tool. You will see a login screen that asks for three pieces of information: your Social Security number, your date of birth (in MM/DD/YYYY format), and your current street address as it appears on your most recent tax return.

Once you enter this information and click "Submit," the tool will display your payment status. If your payment was deposited, you will see the bank account number (last four digits only) and the deposit date. If it was mailed, you will see the mailing date and the expected arrival window. If the payment is still being processed, the tool will tell you that as well.

The tool updates once per day, usually overnight. If you checked yesterday and saw "pending," checking again today may show a different status. You do not need to create an account or log in with a password — you only need to enter the three pieces of information above.

What to do if your stimulus check was mailed

If the Get My Payment tool shows your payment was mailed, it will display the date it was sent. Stimulus checks typically arrived within two to three weeks of the mailing date, though some took longer depending on postal service delays.

If the tool shows a mailing date from more than a month ago and you still have not received the check, the payment may have been lost in the mail. In that case, you have two options: you can file a claim with the U.S. Postal Service, or you can claim the payment on your next tax return. To claim it on your tax return, you will need to know the payment amount. The first round was up to $1,200 per person, the second round was up to $600 per person, and the third round was up to $1,400 per person — the exact amount depended on your income and filing status.

What to do if your stimulus check was deposited

If the Get My Payment tool shows your payment was deposited to a bank account, check your bank statements from the date shown in the tool. The payment will appear as a deposit from "IRS TREAS 310" or similar language. If you see the deposit in your account, the payment went through successfully.

If the tool shows a deposit date but you do not see the money in your account, contact your bank. The deposit may have been rejected if your account was closed, if the account number changed, or if there was a processing error on the bank's end. Your bank can tell you whether the deposit was received and, if it was rejected, where the IRS sent it instead.

Tracking a payment sent to a different address or account

If you moved between the time the stimulus was issued and when you checked the status, the Get My Payment tool will show the address or bank account where the IRS sent the payment, not your current address. This is important because it means you may need to look for the check at your old address or contact your old bank.

If a check was sent to an old address, contact the current residents or the post office to see if they have it. If a deposit went to a closed bank account, contact that bank to ask where the rejected payment was returned. The IRS may have reissued it to a different account or mailed a replacement check.

If the Get My Payment tool shows no record of a payment

If you enter your Social Security number and the tool says no payment was issued to you, it could mean several things. You may not have been may be able to access for that round of stimulus based on your income or filing status. You may have been claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return, which would make that person may be able to access instead. Or there may have been an error in how the IRS processed your information.

If you believe you should have received a payment, you can claim it on your tax return. When you file, you will report the stimulus payments you received and claim any that you did not. The IRS will then send you the difference. This is the most common way people recover stimulus payments that were missed or sent to the wrong place.

Contacting the IRS if you need more help

If the Get My Payment tool does not answer your question or if you need to speak with someone, call the IRS at 1-800-919-9835. This line is specifically for stimulus payment questions. Have your Social Security number, date of birth, and street address ready when you call.

The IRS also has a mailing address where you can send written questions, though phone or online is faster. If you are working with a tax professional or accountant, they can also contact the IRS on your behalf using a power of attorney form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I track someone else's stimulus check using their Social Security number?

No. The Get My Payment tool requires you to enter a Social Security number, date of birth, and street address. You can only look up a payment if you have access to all three pieces of information and the address matches a current or recent address for that person. Parents can look up payments for dependent children using the child's Social Security number and the household address.

What if I never filed a tax return but received a stimulus check?

You can still use the Get My Payment tool. The IRS issued stimulus payments to people who filed taxes, people who received Social Security or veterans benefits, and people who filed certain other government forms. If you received a payment, you can track it the same way — enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and the address where you were living at the time.

How long does it take to get a replacement stimulus check if the first one was lost?

If you claim the payment on your tax return, you will receive it as part of your refund or as a credit against taxes owed, which takes several weeks after you file. If you file a claim with the Postal Service and they confirm the check was lost, the IRS can reissue it, but this process can take several months. Claiming it on your tax return is usually faster.

Will the Get My Payment tool work if I have a different Social Security number now?

Use the Social Security number you had when the stimulus was issued. If you have changed your number since then, the tool will not find the payment under your new number. You will need to use your old number to look it up, then contact the IRS to update your records if the payment went to the wrong place.