There was no official fourth stimulus check from the federal government

The IRS issued three rounds of economic impact payments during the pandemic: in 2020, 2021, and early 2022. A fourth federal stimulus check did not happen. If you see a website or tool claiming to track a "fourth stimulus check" or promising to help you receive one, it is not connected to the IRS.

Some states did send their own relief payments to residents during 2021 and 2022, but these were separate from federal stimulus and are no longer being issued. If you received a state payment, it would have arrived years ago.

What you may be looking for is information about the three payments that did occur, or you may have encountered a scam site designed to collect personal information. This guide explains what actually happened with stimulus payments, how to verify if you received yours, and how to report fraudulent tracking tools.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS sent three stimulus payments total: March 2020, December 2020, and March 2021; no fourth payment was issued by the federal government.
  • You can check the status of the three payments you may have received by visiting IRS.gov and using the official Get My Payment tool, which is still available.
  • If you received a payment by direct deposit, it went to the bank account you listed on your most recent tax return or provided to the IRS directly.
  • Websites or apps claiming to track a fourth stimulus check are not affiliated with the IRS and should not be trusted with your personal information.
  • If you never received one of the three payments you were owed, you can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your tax return for the years you missed.

The three stimulus payments that were actually issued

The first payment went out in spring 2020 and was worth up to $1,200 per adult and $500 per child. The second payment arrived in December 2020 and was worth up to $600 per adult and $600 per child. The third payment was sent starting in March 2021 and was worth up to $1,400 per adult and $1,400 per child.

may be able to access for all three payments was based on your 2019 or 2020 tax return, depending on which year you filed. The IRS used the income and dependent information from whichever return was most recent. If your income was above certain thresholds, the payment amount was reduced or eliminated.

Most people received their payment by direct deposit to the bank account listed on their tax return. Some received checks by mail, and some received prepaid debit cards. The method depended on how you filed your return and what information the IRS had on file.

How to check if you received a stimulus payment

The official IRS tool for checking stimulus payment status is the Get My Payment tool, available at IRS.gov. This tool is still active and can show you the status of all three payments. To use it, you need your Social Security number, date of birth, street address, and ZIP code.

The tool will tell you whether each payment was sent, the amount, the date it was sent, and the method (direct deposit, check, or debit card). If a payment was sent by direct deposit, it will show the last four digits of the bank account where it was deposited.

If the tool shows a payment was sent but you never received it, the next step depends on the method. For direct deposit, contact your bank to ask whether the deposit arrived and was rejected or reversed. For checks or debit cards, contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040.

What to do if you never received a payment you were owed

If you were owed a stimulus payment but never received it, you can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your tax return. This credit is claimed on Form 1040 (the main tax return form) and covers any of the three payments you did not get.

To claim the credit, you will need to know how much you were owed for each year. The Get My Payment tool can help you figure this out. You then report the amount on your tax return for the year the payment should have been sent. For example, if you missed the second payment in 2020, you claim it on your 2020 tax return.

If you have already filed your return for a year in which you missed a payment, you can file an amended return using Form 1040-X. This process takes longer than a regular return, but it allows you to claim the credit retroactively.

How to spot and avoid fake stimulus tracking websites

Scam sites often use official-sounding names and URLs that look similar to IRS.gov. They may claim to offer a "fourth stimulus check tracker" or promise to help you receive money faster. These sites are not connected to the IRS and are designed to steal personal information.

Red flags include requests for your full Social Security number, bank account details, or credit card information. The real IRS Get My Payment tool asks only for your Social Security number, date of birth, address, and ZIP code. It never asks for passwords, PINs, or banking details.

If you entered personal information on a fake site, monitor your credit report and bank accounts for suspicious activity. You can place a fraud alert on your credit file by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.

Direct deposit and the accounts where payments were sent

If you received a stimulus payment by direct deposit, the IRS sent it to the bank account you listed on your most recent tax return. If you filed jointly with a spouse, the payment went to the account associated with the first name on the return.

Some people had payments sent to accounts they no longer used or had closed. If this happened to you, contact your bank to ask whether the deposit was rejected and returned to the IRS. If it was returned, the IRS may have sent a check instead, which could have been lost or delayed in the mail.

If you want to check which account the IRS has on file for you, the Get My Payment tool shows the last four digits of the account that received your payment. If this is not the account you expected, your tax return may have outdated banking information.

Claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit on your tax return

The Recovery Rebate Credit is claimed on Schedule 3 of Form 1040, which is part of your main tax return. You calculate the total amount of stimulus payments you were owed across all three rounds, subtract any payments you actually received, and enter the difference as your credit.

The credit reduces your tax liability dollar-for-dollar. If the credit is larger than the tax you owe, you receive the difference as a refund. Many people who claim this credit end up with a larger refund than they would have otherwise.

If you are unsure how much you were owed, the IRS provides a worksheet in the Form 1040 instructions. You can also use the Get My Payment tool to see what each payment should have been based on your income and filing status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there really a fourth stimulus check coming?

No. The federal government issued three stimulus payments and has not announced plans for a fourth. Some states sent their own payments in 2021 and 2022, but those programs have ended. Any website claiming to help you track or receive a fourth payment is not legitimate.

How do I know if my direct deposit went to the right account?

Use the Get My Payment tool on IRS.gov. It shows the last four digits of the account where your payment was deposited. If this does not match an account you recognize, contact your bank to see if the deposit was rejected or reversed.

Can I claim a stimulus payment I never received on my taxes?

Yes, through the Recovery Rebate Credit. You claim it on Schedule 3 of Form 1040 for the year the payment should have been sent. If you have already filed that year's return, you can file an amended return using Form 1040-X.

What should I do if I think I was scammed by a fake stimulus tracker?

Stop using the site immediately and do not enter any more information. Monitor your credit report and bank accounts for suspicious activity. Place a fraud alert with one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. Report the scam site to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Can I get a stimulus payment if I did not file a tax return?

You could have received a payment if you had income below the filing threshold, but you would have needed to provide your information to the IRS through a special form. If you missed this window, you can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on a tax return you file now, even if you did not file in previous years.