Where's my stimulus payment (tax rebate)?
The IRS recently posted a new interactive worksheet on its Web site, "Where's My Stimulus Payment?" It's intended to help taxpayers determine the status of their stimulus payment: how much it is, when it should arrive, and how it will be delivered. You only need three pieces of information to use it: the Social Security number of the first person listed on the tax return, filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.), and the number of exemptions claimed on the return.
You are welcome to try it, but don't be surprised if you end up frustrated. The IRS interactive indeed told how much my husband and I, who filed separately, would receive of the basic stimulus payment by this Friday. But didn't explain why we wouldn't get credit for our 14-year-old daughter, whom my husband claimed as a dependent.
Several colleagues and commenters on this blog tried the system and got the equivalent of no answer at all. One got the response, "We are sorry but we cannot tell you the status of your Stimulus payment." Another got, "We are sorry. Specific information about your Stimulus payment is not available."
In fact, it appears that "Where's My Stimulus Payment" is only useful when the payment is nearly in your hands. As it told one colleague, "Specific information about your Stimulus Payment will not be available until about one week before your payment is scheduled to be issued. " An IRS spokesman told me basically the same thing.
A lot of good that does.
In the mean time, check the IRS's rebate payment schedule, which may be able to tell you the week in which you can expect your rebate.
And if you received your rebate and disagree with the amount or don't understand why you got what you got, call the Refund Hotline at 1-866-234-2942 and wait for a human being. An IRS representative wasn't able to help me because I didn't have certain information at hand, but perhaps you'll be luckier.
--Tobie Stanger
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Posted by: Brunilda Orellano | May 6, 2008 11:49:08 AM
i went into the site where is my Stimulus payment answered the three simple questions and got information right away.
Posted by: Randy Taylor | May 7, 2008 3:26:06 PM
We are getting the "I'm sorry we have no information....." message and our first thought is of course the worst, but we checked both our SSN's on the treasury offset number and there are no debts to either. We got our refund after they deducted a fee we owed back in March. At that time the "where's my refund" site said there was a problem. My wife is ACH director at the CU so she these these things come in. When I call I am put on hold and after 20 minutes I just assume it'd futile. We are waiting til Friday to see if it just shows up. I am thinking the "where's my stimulus...." is just not that accurate due to volume. We'll see. If someone has gotten the no info message and then gotten the deposit I'd love to hear. I am assuming if you got a refund you should get your rebate.Thanks all.
Posted by: Jennifer | May 8, 2008 3:37:20 PM
I'm getting "no information" as well. I have met all the criteria, did direct deposit on my refund, and am scheduled to receive payment tomorrow. But I am not hopeful since it still says "no info".
Posted by: Heather | May 8, 2008 6:13:24 PM
I got the same thing as Jennifer..."no Info"....i put in both me and my husbands ssn's and put exeptions. I did my taxes 3 monthes ago and we did direct deposit also. I am supposed to get mine tomorrow also...we'll see.....we did owe on our federal, which we paid when we filed our taxes. We used a credit card to pay it, and it wasnt taken out of our state refund. I wonder if that makes a difference? If I get it tomorrow, I will leave a blog....
Posted by: Patty | May 9, 2008 5:41:27 AM
I filed in January, like a good girl, and received my ACH refund in February - my bank information has not changed. I owe nothing to anyone, no fees, nothing. Last week, I went on the IRS website to use their little calculator, and it confirmed I would received my $600 payment by May 9 - that is today. This morning I went back on the website to use their little calculator again and I get a "sorry, we have no information, check back a week before you are due your stimulus payment" message (something like that), and then it provides reasons why they can't help me - none of which apply to me. I'm glad I found this website. I also found another, the link is provided: http://consumerist.com/5008105/wheres-my-stimulus-payment
It's really just a blog about the stim payment, with people rejoicing at their payment, at there lower-than-expected payment, and wondering why they can't use the tool, where their payment is, what they found out from the IRS, etc.
I remember the last stim payment we received some years ago, it was unexpected, no one really researched it, and everyone got their expected payments. This time it seems like it's becoming a mess. We shall see. Any money is better than no money, but the IRS should be consistent with the information they are providing the tax payers.
Posted by: Joni | May 9, 2008 9:00:53 AM
I'm getting "no information" also. I have met all the criteria too, my husband and I were really depending on our rebate check being in our account today, but it is not and it was supposed to be according to the schedule, this is soo frustrating. My neighbor also hasn't received there rebate and they were supposed to have theirs by May 2, what is going on?
Posted by: Deb | May 9, 2008 9:45:22 AM
NO DIRECT DEPOSIT FOR MOST USING COMMERCIAL TAX PREPARERS - Jackson Hewitt, HR Block or other commercial companies for this reason:
Unbeknownst to us - when you chose to have the tax prep fees taken out of your "directly deposited" refund YOU WILL GET PAPER CHECK adding another month to the wait - because your return was not deposited into your account by the IRS. It has gone through the company's banking system and then deposited by them.
If you have not received your stimulus deposit - you may have inadvertently "chosen" an RAC or RAL.
Just an FYI:
A "refund anticipation check" (RAC) is the non-loan bank product that many commercial tax preparers and their bank partners offer in addition to refund anticipation loans (RALs). They are sometimes called "refund transfers" or "accelerated check refunds."
RACs are also commonly provided to taxpayers who do not have the up-front cash to pay for tax preparation. In these cases, the preparer deducts the tax preparation fee from the consumer’s refund when it hits the dummy account, prior to cutting the RAC check to the consumer.
Tax preparers and their bank partners have sold a significant number of RACs. In 2002, about 1.75 million H&R Block customers were sold this product. The main bank partner for Jackson Hewitt, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, sold approximately 3 million RACs in 2003 and has stated that RACs are actually their most popular tax refund product.
Posted by: Randy | May 9, 2008 10:42:29 AM
Our message is "we are sorry we cannot tell you the stautus..." rather than the "no info is available". It gives us a number with an extension and a reference number. Are we being called to the principles office for being bad? We got a refund in Feb. after they deducted an amount we owed from a previous tax year, so we should be ok.
There is no way to get thru to the IRS via phine right now except to check the offset line and we have none showing. My wife is in a CU ACH department as I said and she got files in from the IRS today showing some for deposit for today and somefor Monday and Tuesday. Some showing "no info.." on the "Where's my..." got theirs today but I have not heard of anyone getting the Sorry we can't tell you getting theirs. Has anyone seen this message or have any information?? please let me know.
I can tell you that if you are scheduled for the 9th it May be in to post next week, and the order for SSN is not following the IRS scheduleexactly some low, lesss than 20, numbers are posting today. Any information is appreciated. Good luck.
Posted by: donna | May 9, 2008 10:57:28 AM
I owe nothing, got a check direct deposited in my bank in February -- happy days!! Now, my 44 ends with payment today and I got nothing! ZERO so i try the web site "no information" and i have tried to call the IRS to see what the deal is and it goes round and round with answering services enter this, dial that is there anyone LIVE you can speak to to find out what the deal is? Like, am I getting money or not? ANd if you filed Turbo Tax does that make a difference??? I would rather be stimulating my wallet than fighting the phone lines to find out where it is??? LOL
Posted by: Carolyn | May 9, 2008 12:42:26 PM
Donna - Turbo Tax clients will get a check mailed to them... It's called a RAL.. meaning you had fees taken out when you had your taxes done - and the money went to Santa Barbara bank and then into your account, therefore the IRS doesn't have your routing #, checking #'s, etc., and Santa Barbara Bank closes you out once you get your normal tax refund.. I called last Saturday and spoke to a real person at the IRS - as mine was due last Week.. so now I wait two more weeks for it to be mailed. Hope this helps!!!
Posted by: Heather | May 9, 2008 2:14:30 PM
This is Heather...again. We were supposed to get our $ today...and as of 2pm on fri, we havent. We used Tax cuts, through H&R block. We had to pay our fee for doing our taxes by credit card, so they have our direct bank info...and nothing yet. It is frustrating, cause I'd like to have the cash now, but I guess it will be a suprise when I get it. We are supposed to have it today...fri May 9th. I will post once we get it. We did get the first thing in the mail explaining about what the tax stimulous was for, but we never got the second mailing telling us the exact amount. It looks like everyone is saying you get that a week before you get the actual $$$.Good luck....happy spending once you get it!!
Posted by: stephanie | May 10, 2008 9:56:05 AM
Ok I was supposed to recieve my so called rebate on May 2nd its now May 10th and I have yet to see anything. The IRS website is giving me that "no info aval. at this time" or something. I don't owe anyone money. I did do my taxes through HR Block online but it was free, I did not pay for them to do my taxes I did it myself. What's the deal??? Where's my money???
Posted by: Angela | May 10, 2008 2:12:40 PM
Irs.gov told us that we were getting on the 9th. Its Saturday now and nothing. We also got a letter in the mail saying it was going to be the 9th and how much. People in our family who's social security numbers are way higher than ours have recieved thiers so I have not idea. Irs.gov says not to call until june 9th. Anyone else have is one irs.gov and got a letter and did not recieve it?
Posted by: Jessica | May 10, 2008 4:09:00 PM
Hello,I as well have not received the payment yet. But I am understanding that if you paid any fees that it will be a paper check... But I actually filed mine on the IRS website this year. I did not owe anything to the govt but the small processing fee to file them... Does that still mean no DD? Just wondering any help would be wonderful. Thanks!
Posted by: tasha daniels | May 10, 2008 7:42:20 PM
I filed my tax return and had it direct deposited but now i dont have that bank account any more. what are they going to do now about my money? will they just mail me a check?
Posted by: Brandi | May 11, 2008 7:20:54 PM
Im sick of not knowing but then again we should not depend on the gov. to be honest!!!! we did H&R with direct deposit but there was no fees to pay because it was thru friends and family I guess they get 5 free friends and family so we were not charged anything for our taxes to be done. but we still have not recieved our stim $$$$ ??? Gosh forbid the IRS give it to the people who really need it now!!!! not later!!!! ours latst ss# is 14 it says may 2nd...yea right!!!! no wonder we are in a jam with our economy if they cant even get the stimulas $$$ right what makes us think they can run evreything else right?????
Posted by: patricia | May 11, 2008 10:40:17 PM
I was suppose to get a deposit on may 9 or so I thought but I went On to the irs web site I am getting a check mailed to 6/6 even though I did direct deposit I had fees taken out of my tax return which was done through turbo tax. Therefore I will be getting a check so If you haven't got your rebate don't worry you will probably get a paper check.
Posted by: Kevin | May 11, 2008 10:51:12 PM
Last 4 digits of my SSN are 02...
Received both my state and federal refunds, direct deposit.
Not one cent of my stimulus.
Does the federal government really have to wonder why people don't trust them to do their jobs the way they say they're going to?
Posted by: Crystal | May 11, 2008 11:24:22 PM
The "Where's my stimulus?" tool hasn't offered me any information either and my stimulus payment was scheduled for direct deposit on May 2nd. But I also filed with Turbo Tax, so if what Carolyn says is true, then that explains why i haven't gotten it yet. I sure wish i would've know that before! Thanks for the info Carolyn!
Posted by: Joe | May 12, 2008 6:44:35 AM
With an 02 number and direct deposit tax return,I somehow received a check in the mail Saturday.
Checks aren't supposed to go out till 5/16.
Go figure!
Posted by: mark | May 12, 2008 10:29:02 AM
For those expecting a direct deposit of stimulus payment this week (by 5/16/08), based upon your ssn ending 76-99, I may have some updated info. Many have found the rebate tool peculiar, including me. I filed my 2007 return on April 15 via H&R Block Free File. I received my refund via direct dep. about 3 weeks ago. As of about 2 hrs. ago (830 am EDT on May 12) the payment tool had no data for me. As of just moments ago, its shows me due to rec. deposit on 5/16 for $300, which would be correct.
It would appear that for those sched. 5/16, the irs systems are just now updating, so check in today or later and it may work for you.
Posted by: Keysha | May 12, 2008 1:26:38 PM
I was scheduled to receive my Stimulus rebate 5/9 and I did but the issue I am having is that I have two kids and just like many others I know I only got $300 for myself and nothing for my children and when i spoke to the IRS they told me they didnt know why i didnt receive the child tax credit but I would recieve a letter with the break down, I just received the letter and it doesnt show any info on why I didnt get the credit...The only problem I have is that we are being misled and that is very unfair!!!
Posted by: Cassie | May 12, 2008 1:28:44 PM
I too had an issue when using the "wheres my stimulus payment" tool. Id tried it over and over again last week and to no avail did i receive any information other then sorry they had no info or maybe i miss entered information. I checked it early this morning and still nothing, I checked back around 9 am and it said due in my account on may 16th, well something told me to check it again and now its back to no info. We tried my husbands as well and it also first showed a deposit date of the 16th, so we waited a half hour and looked up his again and then his was back to no info. So i dont know if this indicates a problem or the system is just glitching, and of course no one is of any help because the due by date has not passed yet. anyone else have this happen?????
Posted by: Shawn | May 12, 2008 2:41:16 PM
I was suppost to receive the rebate on Fri. the 9th and have yet to get it. Also did direct dep. with no problems, in Feb 2008, and owe nothing to anyone. I never did receive the 2nd letter, just the 1st one. What gives? Everyone is talking about receiveing without any complications. Please someone enlighten me.
Posted by: JoAnn | May 12, 2008 3:29:37 PM
I also did my taxes with H&R Block and put it on my emerald card. I was shopping for a new apartment and it seemed easier. I have the last digits of 02, so does it say when I am to get my check? Do I have to type in my information or just look at the scheduled check dates?