COVID-19 second round stimulus payments in mail

The check – or debit card – is in the mail. At least that is the hope for those who have not received their second round of economic stimulus payments.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced last week that it has finished sending $600 in Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) that were approved by Congress for eligible persons and families in December.

While some people are still waiting for their stimulus checks or debit cards to arrive in the mail, IRS reps say that – for the most part – those who have not received their stimulus money might consider a payment trace.

The IRS contact number to begin the payment trace process is 1-800-919-9835.

IRS assistors cannot initiate a payment trace on the second round of EIPs unless it has been five days since the deposit date and the bank says it has not received the payment, or if the payment was mailed by check to a standard address.

“While some second round EIPs may still be in the mail,” an IRS spokesperson said in a statement February 23, “the IRS has issued all first and second EIPs it is legally permitted to issue for eligible people it has on file.”

The IRS began issuing checks once legislation authorizing a second round of stimulus payments was signed into law in late December.

Single tax filers earning $75,000 or less or married couples filing jointly earning $150,000 or below are entitled to a full stimulus payment under the bill passed just before New Year’s.

Single filers earning more than $87,000 and couples earning above $174,000 are not eligible for any stimulus funds.

Those whose income falls within the limit for stimulus eligibility but have not received money might be persons without a recent tax return on file, according to the IRS website.

Another option for those believing they are owed stimulus money is to claim the payment on their 2020 tax returns.

“Due to the compressed timeline, the IRS is unable to reissue and mail checks and instead encourages people to file their 2020 tax returns electronically to claim and receive the Recovery Rebate Credit quickly as possible,” the IRS said on its website.

Tax returns are due by April 15 this year if the IRS does not extend the deadline.