Many US Expats have been wondering when will they get their Stimulus Check. Good news is that the IRS has already started sending out economic stimulus payments authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. According to The Washington Post, the IRS also has a timetable for getting checks to every American who is entitled to one. Unfortunately, though, not everyone gets their payment right away. In fact, it looks like some Americans won’t get stimulus money until September.
Direct Deposit Payments Are Going Out Now
The IRS has already started issuing electronic Stimulus Checks through direct deposit. More payments should arrive in taxpayers’ bank accounts in the next couple of weeks.
Will you get an electronic payment? It depends on whether the IRS has your bank account information. If you signed up for direct deposit of a refund on your 2018 or 2019 tax return, then the IRS has all the information it needs to pay you Stimulus Check electronically. If you haven’t filed your 2019 return yet, you still might have time to file before the IRS issues your payment. You might even get a bigger Stimulus Check if you file your 2019 tax return now. (On the other hand, you could get more money by waiting to file your return–it all depends on your own situation.)
The IRS also has an online “Get My Payment” tool where you can check your Stimulus Check status, confirm your payment type (direct deposit or paper check), and enter your bank account information for direct deposit if the IRS doesn’t already have that information and they haven’t sent your payment yet.
If you receive Social Security benefits and typically don’t file a tax return, the IRS will use information from your Social Security benefits statement to calculate the Stimulus Check amount. They will also send your stimulus payment electronically if that’s how you normally receive your Social Security payments.
For other people who usually don’t file a tax return, the IRS has an online portal where you can file a “simple return” to provide your bank account information.
If a direct deposit payment is rejected (e.g., if the bank account information is incorrect), the IRS will mail you a paper Stimulus Check instead.
Paper Stimulus Check Will Take Longer
If the IRS has to send you a paper Stimulus Check, you won’t get your payment until late April at best. And the higher your income, the longer it will take to get your money. (For taxpayers without children, Stimulus Check amounts are reduced to zero for single taxpayers with adjusted gross income above $99,000, head-of-household filers with AGI above $136,500, and joint filers with AGI above $198,000.)
According to reports, here’s the timetable the IRS plans to use for mailing paper Stimulus Check:
IRS Schedule For Mailing Paper Checks
Taxpayer Income Date Check Mailed
| $0 to $10,000 | April 24 |
| $10,001 to $20,000 | May 1 |
| $20,001 to $30,000 | May 8 |
| $30,001 to $40,000 | May 15 |
| $40,001 to $50,000 | May 22 |
| $50,001 to $60,000 | May 29 |
| $60,001 to $70,000 | June 5 |
| $70,001 to $80,000 | June 12 |
| $80,001 to $90,000 | June 19 |
| $90,001 to $100,000 | June 26 |
| $100,001 to $110,000 | July 3 |
| $110,001 to $120,000 | July 10 |
| $120,001 to $130,000 | July 17 |
| $130,001 to $140,000 | July 24 |
| $140,001 to $150,000 | July 31 |
| $150,001 to $160,000 | August 7 |
| $160,001 to $170,000 | August 14 |
| $170,001 to $180,000 | August 21 |
| $180,001 to $190,000 | August 28 |
| $190,001 to $200,000 | September 4 |
| All Others | September 11 |
As far as I understand the USPS is not sending out any international mail at this time. So why is no one informing Citizens aboard of this? At this point it doesn’t matter when the paper check is mailed because it’s all just sitting in the post offices. Therefore anyone aboard won’t see the paper check until possibly Sept, given there aren’t any complications. I feel us aboard are given a false sense of hope on the matter. I entered my info too late (due to the tool not working) and missed my chance of Direct Deposit by only 5 days. I have no way to check the USPS Tracking tool as it is only available to U.S. Address. And I have no way of knowing if they will reverse my paper check and send Direct Deposit. Most folks aboard should be informed that USPS is currently unable to send out mail. It is quite frustrating. The countries they are not delivering to can be found on the USPS website.
Hi Tia! Yes, the IRS’ system has a lot of room for improvement. There is nothing we can do but wait.
Hi Tia,
I’m a US expat living in Belgium, and today (May 18) I received a paper stimulus check in the mail.
I have not read anything about expats receiving paper checks, so I am wondering if it is legit…
Hi Drew! Yes, US expats are also eligible to receive the stimulus check.
Hello Tia,
My situation is the same as yours. Can you perhaps email me and we can share our experiences with this?
Thanks.
The First Q is : will the IRS mail paper checks to addresses abroad taken from the SSA data, since the IRS has no data for Non Filers (Legal Non Filers). The Second Q is Q : Will the IRS change their policy and do Direct Deposit to Foreign Banks through CITIBANK EUROPE PLC IRELAND which is the Bank SSA uses to direct Deposit SSA benefits.
I THINK WE SHOULD WRITE TO OUR SENATORS BACK HOME
A
Hi Andreas! No, it will be sent to the mailing address on your tax return. I haven’t heard about the IRS considering changes in their policy regarding the Direct Deposit.
I have checked my GET MY PAYMENT status every week for the past few months. It keeps saying that they sent the check on May 1st. One month later and I still haven’t received it. There’s no one to contact at the IRS and now it seems like they don’t mail checks to those of us who live abroad? They have no problem sending mail to me when it’s about them receiving payments. Is there any way to get in touch with them to figure this out?
Hi Victoria! You can find more information about the stimulus checks and contact numbers to the IRS here: https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance