How to change direct deposit for stimulus

The IRS has my banking information on file. Why didn't I get my stimulus check through direct deposit?

While we can't say for certain what went wrong in your case, there are some common reasons the transaction didn't go through as you expected, including:

• An electronic transfer of funds was made to a closed account.
• Direct deposit was attempted to a temporary account used by a third-party tax preparer (this was an issue for the second check, especially).
• You changed your direct deposit banking preferences or registered a new account on your 2020 tax return, but the IRS hasn't processed it and used your 2019 information instead.
• The IRS didn't get to your payment for whatever reason, and you'll receive a paper check or EIP debit card instead.
• You receive Social Security benefits like SSI or SSDI and your payment will arrive a different way.
• You need to provide more information to the IRS, such as details for your dependents, including new babies or older adults.
• You received a partial payment through direct deposit based on your 2019 taxes and need to file an adjustment later.
• Your payment was garnished by private debt collectors.

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I already got my third stimulus check through direct deposit. Why do I need to keep the IRS letter?

The IRS sends a letter -- notice 1444 -- to every stimulus check recipient. You want to keep this letter. It confirms that you got a payment and the payment amount. Your check total won't be available on the IRS tracking tool.

This notice is also the easiest way to file an adjustment with the IRS at a later date if it turns out that part of your allotted stimulus funds are missing. The agency recommends keeping the letter with your tax records. You can recover the information online if you lose this notice, but it's a rather involved process that could take a couple days.

Why should I double check my payment total with the stimulus check calculator?

Delivering a third stimulus check in the middle of tax season (May 17 is the new tax deadline) has complicated matters. If you filed your taxes early and the IRS processed your 2020 return, it may use that information to calculate your stimulus total. If not, your third check will be based on 2019 totals, or other information the agency has (for example, if you're a nonfiler).

If your estimated total from the stimulus calculator differs greatly from what you received through direct deposit, it may signal that the IRS owes you money for dependents that were unaccounted for, or a different life circumstance, like if your adjusted gross income from 2020 is lower than from 2019. Again, we recommend holding on to that IRS confirmation letter to file a future claim.

What do I do if there's a problem with direct deposit? Should I call the IRS?

The IRS has made it extremely clear: It does not want you to call. We recommend some steps you can take to confirm and address problems with direct deposit, including how to request a payment trace if either the IRS tracker tool or the confirmation letter tells you the IRS sent you stimulus money to your bank account that you didn't receive.

Why won't the IRS let me sign up to receive the third payment as a direct deposit?

Good question, and we don't have an answer. The IRS opened up direct deposit registration for the first stimulus check in April 2020 and shut down the feature on May 15 that year. The tool wasn't turned back on for the second checks, when the agency had just over two weeks to complete making payments. 

This time, the IRS said it'll "use data already in its systems to send the third stimulus payments. Taxpayers with direct deposit information on file will receive the payment that way. Those without current direct deposit information on file will receive the payment as a check or debit card in the mail."

How many people got stimulus check money through direct deposit with the third check?

By March 17, more than 90 million of the $1,400 stimulus payments were made through direct deposit, the IRS said, with 17 million more estimated to go out by March 24, The Washington Post reported. Over 75% of the first round of payments and more than 80% of the second payments were distributed via direct deposit.