What do I need to do to get the money?

If you filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return, or you receive US social security, no action is required in most cases. If you received a refund by direct deposit on your last US tax return, you will also receive your "EIP" by direct deposit. If you did not get a refund, you will receive a check or debit card (in a plain envelope from “Money Network Cardholder Services") to the address on your last tax return. The IRS will not use the bank information you gave your accountant in order to PAY tax. Nor will they use direct deposit information from a year prior to 2018. 

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How can I get a direct deposit?

If you did not receive a refund by direct deposit on your last US tax return, you are supposed to be able to input your US bank information via this IRS website. This can be used for US bank accounts only. You should also be able to use this site to check the status of your refund. If you filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return with Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) under $80,000, your check or debit card should have been mailed by June 19. In this case, it is too late to request a direct deposit.

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Why did I have a letter without a check?

Many people received letters weeks before the check or debit card, or the other way around. The letter comes separately from the money. Even if your account online says a check was sent, you may receive a debit card in a plain envelope from “Money Network Cardholder Services."

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Error: The information you have entered does not match our records. Please try again.

If you are seeing this error, try entering your address with and NO periods or commas. Use the Number Symbol # instead of "Apartment" or "APT." For example "12 TRUMPLEDOR #4." Check your last tax return to confirm exactly how your address was written. Enter only the first 5 digits of your postal code.

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"Payment Status Not Available" and other errors

Based on what I am hearing, the vast majority of people trying to provide the IRS with their direct deposit information or check their status are unable to do so for various reasons. I can confirm that people receiving errors ARE STILL RECEIVING their refunds. Please don't contact me; I can't help you with this. There is no one at the IRS to contact, either. My advice for the moment is to sit tight and wait for the errors to be fixed. The most likely reasons, this would happen, from what I can tell:

1. The last tax return you filed hasn't been processed yet. It can take more than 6 weeks and the IRS isn't processing any tax returns this month.

2. You provided information through the Non-filers system (see below) and it hasn't been processed.

3. You use a foreign address on your tax return. Yes, the IRS form has a place for a foreign postal code. However, it does not seem to be working for people with foreign addresses. You are still eligible to receive the payment, you just can't check your status or update your bank information.

4. You need to verify your identity. This is probably the most frustrating and common problem plaguing Americans living abroad. It goes like this: You filed a tax return for any of the past 3 or 4 years. Most likely, you requested a refund. The IRS does not have enough information on file to automatically verify your identity, or existence, because you do not have standard US tax statements (e.g. Forms 1099 or W-2) submitted to the IRS on your behalf from employers, banks, or contractors. They mailed you a letter (which, if you live in Israel, you would be very lucky to have received) stating that someone submitted a tax return with your SSN and you need to call to verify your identity. If you did not receive the letter or have not yet successfully called to verify your identity, there's nothing you can do right now. There is no one working at the IRS who will answer the phone and help you.

5. This information you input does not match the information the IRS has on file for you. Perhaps you are using your married name and that was never updated with the US SSA or IRS. Perhaps they have your date of birth wrong or you are inputting your AGI incorrectly. Please wait to contact your accountant, as the system isn't working well even if your information is correct.

6. You are trying to get something from the US Internal Revenue System. The IRS is understaffed and has been forced to send out a massive sum of money very quickly. Can you really expect them to do it with perfect accuracy? Based on my professional experience, speed and accuracy are not the strongest assets of the IRS, and now you want both? Just be patient.

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What if I can't get a refund or I received the wrong amount?

If you received the wrong amount, you can claim the difference on your 2020 tax return as a "Recovery Rebate Credit." If you were unable to get a refund at all, you will have another opportunity to request a refund or correct the amount when you file your 2020 taxes. You will not be required to pay back anything if your 2020 income is above the limit.