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

Comments

[Jody S]

My husband and I were supposed to get it on May 9. We keep getting the same thing - no info available. I did get it once, it was supposed to be deposited on May 7th - never came, wait until after May 12 to call - then when you call, no human is there. Filed with TurboTax but paid fees with credit card. IRS took money we owed them immediately, where is my payment. Husband is on SSDI and just finally received his first check after waiting for 8 months - desperately needed, our wonderful government at work.

[Christopher]

I should have received my check weeks ago. I did direct deposit. There is no way to find out what's up with it but that bogus website that shows no information. I guess I have to wait another month to see if I get a paper check mailed, and if not, I guess I won't get one.

Just another reason I am disgusted by my government.

[stacey]

I was supposed to have my check today. At least that is what the second notice that was sent to me said. So I looked online at the "wheres my stimulus payment" and it said it would be mailed on the 23rd. So I call the IRS, after waiting a half hour for a real person they tell me that after doing some research that the post office should be getting the check today and that they tell everyone to expect your check 3-5 days after the mailing the date. That was no help. With the holiday coming up monday there is a chance that I wont get this check until next friday?!

[Rosemary]

Hi We got our stimulus but they did nto give our 300 dollars for our son. They say we have no dependents on the letter. I can't speak to a human ANy advice

[Kess]

I owe Federal and State taxes for 2006. I filed Chapter 13 Bankruptcy and they are prioritized first to be paid through my bankruptcy. Then, my husband screwed up on his W4 and we owe AGAIN for 2007-State and Federal. The amount we owe is more than the amount we will get back in our rebate check. (We owe $2500 Federal and are entitled to $1800 rebate). I am 99.9% sure we won't get our rebate. When I go to the IRS website and enter in Wheres my Rebate? It gives me the "We are sorry but we cannot tell you the status of your Stimulus payment". Then gives the reference code of 1626. I know everyone here will laugh, but I have to ask....does anyone know for sure if I will receive my rebate or not? Is it for SURE that they will apply it to owed taxes? I received a letter from the IRS stating that we are entitled to $1800 rebate and that we should receive our payment on 5-23-08. My husband just recently lost his job and we're in dire straights right now financially....just wondering...even though I'm pretty sure I know the answer... Thanks!

[JP]

I had anticipated my rebate by now... paper check was to be mailed by May 16. I never received any information... letter, check, etc. I finally was able to talk to a live person at the IRS. I was told that our return had just been processed (officially will be listed as June 9). He said everything is in order, but we will not receive our check until about the end of June... two weeks or so after the official processing date. We paid taxes, filed on time and our check to the IRS cleared our bank on April 9. I asked him about this, and he could only comment that those receiving a refund are processed first, and ours just took longer. Not fair I guess, but what are you gonna do. I will say the gentleman I spoke with was very nice, and he definitely took a lot of time helping me and getting all the information he possibly could. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that what he told me actually does happen. Hey get it now and spend it or get it later and spend it.... just happy to be getting it. Maybe this will help some of you who are also waiting and confused with why you have not received your rebate. Good Luck to all.

[kathy]

I waas due to have my check deposited may 9th and i filed it myself, still have received no check or any word regarding payment in account; makes me wonder if they deposited it into wrong account; web site is non helpful. My niece was due hers may 2nd and she finally got hers sometime in bank account last week, so guess ill wait a tad longer.

[Steven]

This is a great indicator of how our Govt is 24/7, broken down and not working.

[Peggy B.]

My scheduled D/D for the stimulus rebate date was May 9th. Then I was supposed to expect my money by May 23rd. It's May 31st and still no money. I filed electronically on the TaxAct Web site within 2 days after I received my W2. I should have known that this transaction may be delayed due to software problems,gliches,or faulty data entry skills.But will we ever really know just what the hold up is? I'm tired of checking my online banking account balance everyday just to see if the check has been deposited. I've even started checking my USPS mail more frequenty. It is also a good thing that I didn't have big plans for this money.

[Randy]

Same here. Supposed to have been deposited on or about May 9th, no sign of it 22 days later. IRS says they have no info on me, indicating to me, that my SSN means absolutely nothing. This government personal identifier, means nothing when they ask for it, and you provide it. Are we to assume the same response if we ever want to receive our retirement funds, if there are in fact any retirement funds? The very agency that collects all the feds money from us, has no idea whom we are when we give them the number they gave us at birth, to positively identify each one of us?
I know we're trillions of dollars in debt. However, should they tell us they are going to do something and then not do it? Sorry, almost forgot, nothing new there. Happily, since I work for a living, the money is not that big a deal.
My heart goes out to every person who depends on fed funds just to eat.
I've little doubt the money will appear. Meanwhile, they hold no breath continuing to take mine and others, every week. They know whom we are, when they WANT money.
I sure hope we have enough left over to fix the outhouse on the shuttle.

[Ray]

Does anyone know what Reference Number 1647 means? I had to do an amendment to my taxes and was able to get it in before April 15 but I was pretty sure this would delay any stimulus payment I'd receive. When I first began checking "Where's My Stimulus Payment?, " it told me there was a delay and to use reference number 1646 when calling the IRS. Sure enough, because I'd filed the amended taxes, the rep. told me my payment would be delayed. I just checked the IRS website recently hoping for some good news and this time, it gave me a new reference number--1647---but I can't find information anywhere about it. I tried calling the IRS and waited for about 45 minutes before I gave up and hung up. Anyone have a clue?

[Krystal]

I got mine on the date it said I should by direct deposit? I used turbo tax, but my question is what about the payments that are being held for child support. His was mailed 2 weeks ago and nothing has been posted to child support recovery yet and they don't know anything?

[Jackie]

I just want to add that even if you had your refund direct deposit, you will still get a paper check if the fees for say "rapid refund" were taken from your refund. Unless you paid your fees seperate, you will be getting a paper check.

[Code 1647]

Filed 2007 taxes using an online (not RAL) provider, rec'd regular IRS refund, then discovered minor error and did an ammended return -- all this done prior to 4/15!

Where's my Stimulus now says "there is a delay in the processing of your check -- reference code 1647"

What the hell is this about?

[V]

I was scheduled to get mine on June 13th by paper check and today was the first day my information actually showed up on the website. Before today I kept getting the no information available response. My brother was scheduled to get his on June 6th by paper check but he actually got his on May 28th so I thought mine would be a week early too, but that wasn't so. So hopefully I will get it when they say. There is really no system to it. I think some people got theirs early and some didn't.

[Lori Larivee]

I also had a code 1647 appear when seeking information from the IRS. I also had to file an ammended retuen. Apparently cose 1647 means we will have to wait because of the ammended return.

[jerman]

dose anyone knows what number 1647 means

[Chasity]

My husband and I filed our taxes with H&R Block In January,2008 But we recieved our refund the next day so the IRS told us we will be getting a paper check but we recieved our second letter on June 2nd telling us when and how much we would recieve which Is $1200.00 but I got the second letter on June 3rd so it only took one day to reach me by mail I called the IRS and finally spoke with someone after an hour of listenting to classical music and they told me they will mail my check out on June 6th and hopefully we recieve our check on the 7th of June In one day like we did the letter we got. Did this happen to anyone else? the lady told me If I recieved my letter In one day In the mail than my check could be the same way everyone cross there fingers because we really need It tomorrow......... and Good Luck to everyone else that Is waiting on there checks.....

[Ray]

Reference Number 1647: I finally spoke to an actual person at the IRS. She said because I filed amended taxes, my stimulus payment is being withheld until the amended return is fully processed (although the IRS has already cashed the check I sent with my amended return, itʻs still not "processed!"). She said it could take up to 8 weeks before the return is done processing. I asked what the difference between codes 1646 and 1647 were (earlier I had code 1646 on my account, now I have 1647) but she did not know.

[denise]

Hi Chasity,
I too recieved the letter on June 2, that I would recieve my check by the 6th, could let me know if you recieved it. I live in texas but nobody I know is getting theyre checks on time.....
thanks Denise

[kimbre]

Does anyone know what code 1612 means from the irs?

[kishor phadnis]

There are many people who are legally residing in US, but do not have social security number due to the fact that they do not have their green cards. And they are being claimed as dependents on tax returns. However, congress or IRS is denying them tax stimulus on the grounds that they don't have social security number. Is this fair?

[Kim Minix]

Waited on refund plus stumulus refund,talked to IRS employee and the only problem was I had signed my married name Which had not changed on my soc. sec. card( since the past 2 or 3 years with no problems with and when I had discussed this my refund was not held due to the fact my married name was not matching social sec number. We fixed the problem with the IRS employee and my stimulus refund would be delivered by June 6th. NOT. SO I called again and now there is a problem due to the fact I did not sign my refund as what was my previous name and a new IRS employee Qoute that eliminates me from having my stimulus check sent. If there was a problem afew months ago I could have easily fixed this but now, being a family that depends on money day to day I just found out from (what I feel is an excuse for me not to receive what every hard working American deserves (an excuse for receiving what was promised me )f
rom the first IRS employee i had talked with and fixed the problem. My question is I have never cheated the IRS and a simple wrong name on the soc. sec. card is what is the reason my family is not receiving (gas and food money)I can receive a new soc. sec. card with my new married name and everything else on the tax paper was legitimate. The second IRS ....would not release the name of the very professional IRS employee I had talked with on May 20th. ?? This is a disgrace for this goverment to let you believe they are trying to help but ony find a few simple mistakes to make a promise and take it away...

[Brandy]

This is in response to Lisa on Social Security.. I myself recieve it also and I have 2 kids and my last 2#s are 79.. I didn't return my tax thing until beginning of April. I have done the caculation thing also and I should recieve $900, but then yesterday I checked the status and it said I didn't qualify for the stimulus payment.. I recieved over more then the qualifying income last year and I can not get through to the IRS its always busy, so I just don't know what to think, is there anyone else goin through this also?

[Judy]

Does anyone know what reference 1647 on your payment