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March 18, 2021
Thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021, millions of Americans will be receiving another check from the federal government to help with economic difficulties caused by the pandemic.
As always when it comes to these big pieces of legislation, there are sure to be plenty of questions. How much will you get? When will the payment arrive? How do you get the money into your account? Please take the time to read through this FAQ so you know what to expect.
Individuals earning $75,000 or less will receive a new payment of $1,400, as will heads of households earning up to $112,500. Couples earning $150,000 or less will get $2,800. Payments to those earning more than those amounts will decrease and cut off completely for individuals earning more than $80,000, couples earning more than $160,000, and single parents making more than $120,000. Qualifying parents of children will receive an extra $1,400 per child. That means a married couple with two dependent children may receive $5,600. Also, for this round, dependents now include 17-year-olds, as well as college students, older adults and children of all ages with certain disabilities who are claimed on tax returns.
The payments will be based on information from a taxpayer’s 2019 return, or their 2020 return if it has already been filed.
No, those payments are issued by the IRS, not your financial institution. You can visit the https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment for more details, including the status of the payment and a link to many frequently asked questions.
The IRS will automatically issue your payment via direct deposit to the bank account it has on file based on the information you provided on your tax return. Electronically generated direct deposits are typically the first to go out.
If the IRS does not have direct deposit information, you will be mailed either a paper check or a debit card to your address on file with the IRS. You won’t be able to choose between a paper check or debit card. In fact, some people who received a check in an earlier round of payments could receive a debit card this time, and vice versa. The IRS says to carefully check your mail, so you don’t accidentally throw out the check or debit card. Paper checks will arrive in a white envelope with the U.S. Department of the Treasury seal on the upper left side. The debit cards will arrive in a white envelope that prominently displays the U.S. Department of the Treasury seal, and the envelope will also state “Not a bill or an advertisement. Important information about your Economic Impact Payment.”
It will likely be several days to weeks for mailed paper checks or debit cards to arrive.
The IRS will send you a paper notice in the mail within a few weeks after any payment is sent. It will include information about what form the payment was made and where it was sent.
If you received your payment by mail in the first two rounds, it is recommended that you include your direct deposit bank account information on your 2020 tax return if you are expecting a refund. It is also recommended to file your return as quickly as possible. While there is no guarantee, this could lead to you receiving your next economic impact payment electronically.
Your payment will be deposited directly to the bank account where you automatically receive your Social Security payment. A check will be mailed to you if you normally receive a paper check for your Social Security payment.
Not all payments will go out at once. During the first two rounds, electronic payments were the first to be made, but they were staggered and were not all released at the same time. Checks and debit cards were the next to be sent and they are dependent on regular mail delivery. The whole process is likely to take several weeks.
You can check your bank account at any time of the day or night, using our mobile banking app or online banking. You can also set up an alert via our mobile app or your online banking account that will notify you via text or email as soon as a direct deposit has been made.
The quickest and most convenient option for depositing your check is Mobile Deposit. Simply use your smartphone or tablet and our mobile banking app to make a deposit any time.
Other deposit options include visiting a branch or using an ATM that accepts deposits.
If you receive the Visa debit card, which is managed by Money Network Financial LLC and has the name MetaBank on the back, you can visit www.EIPcard.com for information about how to activate and use it, or view the debit card FAQ. Before using the card, you will need to activate it, set a PIN, and sign the back. You’ll be able to use the card for in-store, online, and phone payments, and can get cash at an ATM. However, please be aware that there is a charge for using this debit card at a New Tripoli Bank ATM.
The IRS says “if you filed taxes using an online tax-preparation service or software, it’s possible that your payment will be sent to a temporary bank account that has since been closed. Tax preparers customarily set up such so-called Refund Transfer accounts so they can deduct authorized fees before passing the balance along to the recipient and closing the account.
If your payment is sent to a closed account, the financial institution is required by law to ‘bounce’ the funds back to the IRS. If this happens (or if you receive no payment or the wrong amount for other reasons), your only recourse may be to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your 2020 taxes.”
According to the IRS, your payment information can’t be changed at this time. It says that “If you don’t get a payment and you’re eligible to receive one, you can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 tax return.”
If your payment is not deliverable or is returned to the IRS for other reasons, you will need to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your 2020 tax return. Be sure to include your current address on your return so the IRS can update your information.
If your payment can’t be delivered to you for any reason and is returned to the IRS, you’ll need to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 return.
The credit is the money you receive in Economic Impact Payments. If you do not receive the amount you are entitled to, you can apply to receive those funds when you file your 2020 tax return. You can visit the IRS website for more information about the Recovery Rebate Credit.
No. The IRS says this money is not income, so you won’t owe federal taxes on it; it won’t affect any expected federal income tax refund; and it won’t affect your income when it comes to determining eligibility for federal assistance or benefit programs. Some states may consider this as taxable income; check with your tax preparer or your state tax department for more information.
Scams are always a concern when money is involved, so you should be on the lookout. Some possible scams include:
In general, you should be aware that federal agencies won’t ask you to pay anything up front to get your payment, and they won’t call, email, text, or reach out to you via social media to request your bank account or Social Security number, or to verify personal information.
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