At the close of 2020, the U.S. government approved a second COVID-19 relief package, including $600 stimulus checks, also known as Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), for many Americans. The IRS began issuing the payments the first week of January. You can now track your payment through the IRS "Get My Payment" website, which is available in both English and Spanish. You can also confirm that the IRS sent your stimulus check from the first COVID-19 relief package in the spring of 2020.
The IRS is issuing the second round of payments via direct deposit, paper check or prepaid debit cards. The IRS website will tell you how your payment will be made.
Direct deposit payments are being issued first, to those who have valid routing and account information on file with the IRS. Remember, direct deposit payments may take several days to post and may show as “pending” or “provisional” until the IRS funds the payment.
Paper checks and debit cards will be mailed via the U.S. Postal Service throughout January. The IRS encourages recipients of mailed payments to closely monitor their mailboxes.
If you’re awaiting a paper check, take the time now to open a Bank of Utah account so you can deposit your check with a financial institution rather than using a high-cost check-cashing service. Bank of Utah has accounts you can open online, in just five minutes or less, and in branch. Visit https://www.bankofutah.com/personal/checking-savings to learn more about account options.
The IRS notes that the stimulus payments are automatic; eligible individuals do not have to take action to receive their checks. The IRS also emphasizes that individuals should use the “Get My Payment” website to track their payments rather than call the IRS or their financial institutions.
Finally, please be aware of fraudsters who are already attempting to scam people out of their payments. The government, or your financial institution, will not contact you by phone, text or email about this payment. To learn more about recent scams, and what to do should you receive suspicious communications, visit https://www.bankofutah.com/news/online-scams-reported.
