The IRS deposits stimulus payments directly into the bank account you provided on your most recent tax return

When the federal government issues stimulus payments, the IRS uses the bank account information from your last filed tax return to send the money. If you filed a 2023 return and provided direct deposit details, that's where your payment goes. If you filed a 2022 return instead, the IRS uses that information. The process is automatic — you don't need to do anything to receive it, and the money typically arrives within a few business days of the IRS sending the batch.

The IRS does not contact you by email, text, or phone to confirm your account details before sending stimulus money. If someone claiming to represent the IRS asks you to verify your banking information or click a link, that's a scam. Real stimulus payments arrive without any action on your part.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS pulls your bank account information from your most recent tax return and deposits stimulus payments there automatically.
  • Stimulus money arrives within a few business days once the IRS sends it, and you will see it posted to your account.
  • You can check the status of a stimulus payment on the IRS website using the "Get My Payment" tool, which shows when it was sent and where.
  • If your bank account information on file is outdated or incorrect, the payment may be returned to the IRS and you will need to claim it on your next tax return.
  • The IRS will never contact you first to ask for banking details — any unsolicited request for account information is a scam.

What happens if your bank account information is wrong or outdated

If the bank account listed on your tax return no longer exists, has been closed, or belongs to a different bank, the payment will be rejected and returned to the IRS. This happens most often when someone has switched banks or closed an account since filing their last return. The money doesn't disappear — it goes back to the Treasury, and you can claim it on your next tax return by filing Form 1040 and checking the box for the stimulus payment you didn't receive.

You cannot update your bank account information with the IRS after a stimulus payment has been sent. If you know your account details are wrong before the payment is issued, your only option is to file an amended return (Form 1040-X) with the correct information before the IRS processes the payment batch. Once the payment is sent, you have to wait and claim it on your next return.

How to check the status of a stimulus payment

The IRS provides a tool called "Get My Payment" on its website (irs.gov) that shows whether a stimulus payment has been sent and where it went. You enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and street address, and the tool tells you the payment status, the date it was sent, and the last four digits of the account it was deposited to. This is the official way to track a payment — do not use any other website or tool claiming to check your status.

If "Get My Payment" shows your payment was sent but you don't see it in your account after five business days, contact your bank first. The money may be held in a pending status, routed to a different account by mistake, or delayed by your bank's processing. Your bank can tell you whether the deposit arrived and where it went. If your bank has no record of the deposit, you can then contact the IRS to report it.

What to do if you never received the payment

If "Get My Payment" shows the payment was sent to an account you no longer have access to, or if your bank confirms it never arrived, you will claim the payment on your next tax return. When you file, you will report the stimulus payment as a credit even though you didn't receive it. The IRS will then issue you the money as part of your refund or reduce the taxes you owe.

Keep any documentation showing the payment was sent — screenshots from "Get My Payment" or a letter from your bank confirming the deposit was not received. You don't need to submit these with your return, but they help if the IRS asks questions later. The process is straightforward: the IRS knows which payments were sent and which ones were claimed on returns, and they match them up automatically.

Scams involving stimulus payments and direct deposit

Scammers create fake websites and send emails or texts claiming you need to "verify" your bank account to receive a stimulus payment or to confirm you got one. They ask you to click a link and enter your Social Security number, account number, routing number, or PIN. Do not do this. The IRS does not send unsolicited emails or texts asking for banking information, and it does not need you to verify anything to send a stimulus payment.

If you receive a message claiming to be from the IRS about a stimulus payment, do not click any links or call any phone numbers in the message. Instead, go directly to irs.gov in your browser and use "Get My Payment" to check your status. If you think you've been scammed, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. You can also report phishing emails to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.

Multiple stimulus payments and how they were sent

The federal government issued stimulus payments in multiple rounds — in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Each payment was sent using the most recent tax return on file at the time. If you filed a 2019 return before the first payment in 2020, that's what the IRS used. If you filed a 2020 return before the second payment in 2021, the IRS used 2020 information instead. The bank account details changed each time you filed a new return.

If you received some stimulus payments but not others, it's usually because your bank account information changed between payments, or because you didn't file a return in time for a particular round. You can claim any missing payments on your tax return for the year the payment was supposed to be issued. The IRS has records of which payments were sent and which ones were claimed, so there's no penalty for claiming a payment you didn't receive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my bank account after a stimulus payment is sent?

No. Once the IRS sends a stimulus payment to a specific account, it cannot be redirected. If the account is closed or the information is wrong, the payment is returned to the IRS and you claim it on your next tax return. You cannot update your account details after the payment is sent.

How long does it take for a stimulus payment to show up in my account?

Most direct deposits arrive within one to three business days after the IRS sends them. Some banks take longer to process deposits. If five business days have passed and you don't see the money, contact your bank to confirm the deposit arrived and check for any holds or delays on your account.

What if I filed my taxes late — will I still get a stimulus payment?

The IRS uses the most recent return on file at the time each payment batch is sent. If you filed after a payment was already issued, you won't receive that payment by direct deposit. You can claim it on your next tax return and receive it as part of your refund or as a credit against taxes owed.

Is "Get My Payment" the only official way to check my stimulus status?

Yes. The IRS "Get My Payment" tool on irs.gov is the only official way to check whether a stimulus payment was sent and where. Any other website or tool claiming to check your status is not affiliated with the IRS. Do not enter your personal information on unofficial sites.