What determines whether you received a stimulus check

Stimulus checks went to people based on their tax filing status, income level, and whether they had a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). The three rounds of payments — in 2020, 2021, and 2022 — each had slightly different rules, but the basic pattern was the same: the IRS used your most recent tax return to find you and calculate your payment amount.

If you filed taxes, the IRS already had your information and sent the money automatically. If you did not file taxes but had income, you could register through a tool on the IRS website to receive a payment. The key thing to understand is that the IRS did not send notices asking you to prove anything — they sent the money based on what they already knew about you from your tax records or from your registration.

Because these payments happened in the past, you cannot change whether you received one. What you can do is understand what happened, learn about you missed a payment you were may have access to to, and learn how to report it on your taxes if you did receive one.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS sent stimulus payments based on your tax return from 2019, 2020, or 2021 — whichever was most recent — and your income had to fall below a certain threshold that varied by filing status.
  • If you did not file taxes but had a Social Security number or ITIN and income below the limit, you could register for a payment through the IRS website during the window that was open for each round.
  • You can check whether you received each of the three stimulus payments by logging into your IRS account or calling the IRS at 800-829-1040.
  • If you did not receive a payment you believe you were may have access to to, you can claim it as a credit on your tax return for the year the payment was supposed to be sent.
  • Stimulus payments are not taxable income, so you do not owe taxes on the money you received.

How the IRS decided who got paid in each round

The first stimulus payment in 2020 went to people with income below $75,000 (single filers), $112,500 (head of household), or $150,000 (married filing jointly). The payment was $1,200 per adult and $500 per child under 17. The second round in 2021 used the same income thresholds and paid $1,400 per person. The third round in 2022 also used those same thresholds and paid $1,400 per person.

The IRS used your 2019 tax return first. If you had not filed for 2019, they looked at your 2020 return. If you had not filed either year, they looked at your 2021 return. This meant that if your income had changed significantly between the year you filed and the year the payment was sent, the IRS might have used outdated information — but they did not go back to correct it based on later returns.

If you had a dependent, the payment included $500 per child under 17 at the time of the payment. The IRS used the dependent information from your tax return, so if you claimed a child on your 2019 return but not on your 2020 return, you would have received the payment based on what was on the 2019 return.

Checking whether you received each payment

The fastest way to check is to log into your IRS account at irs.gov. You will need to create an account or sign in if you already have one. Once you are logged in, look for "Transcript" and select "Account Transcript." This document shows all payments the IRS sent to you, including stimulus payments, and the dates they were sent.

If you do not want to create an IRS account, you can call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and speak to a representative. They can tell you the date and amount of each stimulus payment sent to your Social Security number. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the year you are asking about ready when you call. Wait times are typically shorter in the early morning or late afternoon.

If you received a payment by direct deposit, it went to the bank account listed on your most recent tax return. If you received a check, it was mailed to the address on your return. If the check was lost or never arrived, the IRS would have issued a replacement, but that window has closed — you would now need to claim the payment as a credit on your tax return.

What to do if you did not receive a payment you were may have access to to

If you were below the income threshold and had a Social Security number or ITIN, but never received a stimulus payment, you can claim it on your tax return. You do this by filing a form called the Recovery Rebate Credit — it is part of your regular tax return, not a separate document.

When you file your taxes for the year the payment was supposed to be sent, your tax software will ask you whether you received each of the three stimulus payments. If you say no, the software will calculate the amount you should have received based on your income and dependents for that year, and add it to your refund or reduce what you owe.

You will need your tax return from the year the payment was sent to answer the questions correctly. For example, if you are claiming you did not receive the 2021 payment, you will need your 2020 tax return to know your income and dependents as of that time. If you did not file a return that year, you can still claim the credit — you will just need to estimate your income and dependents based on what you remember.

Why some people did not receive a payment even though they were may have access to

The most common reason is that the IRS did not have your current address or bank account information. If you moved and did not update your address with the IRS, a check was mailed to your old address. If you closed the bank account listed on your tax return, a direct deposit payment would have been rejected and the IRS would have issued a check instead — but again, only to the address they had on file.

Another reason is that you did not file a tax return and did not register for a payment during the registration window. Each round had a specific period when people without tax returns could register through the IRS website. If you missed that window, you would not have received a payment automatically — but you can still claim it on your next tax return.

A third reason is that your income was above the threshold for that round. This is less common for people on Social Security, because Social Security benefits are usually below the income limit, but it can happen if you have other income as well. If your total income was above the threshold, you would not have received a payment, and you cannot claim it later.

Stimulus payments and your taxes

Stimulus payments are not taxable income. You do not owe taxes on the money you received, and you do not have to report it as income on your tax return. If you received a stimulus payment and later filed taxes, you do not reduce your refund or increase what you owe because of the payment.

The only time stimulus payments appear on your tax return is if you did not receive one and are claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit. In that case, you are claiming a credit for money you should have received, not reporting income you did receive.

If you received a stimulus payment by check and cashed it, there is no record of it on your tax return unless you claim the credit. The IRS does not track individual stimulus checks once they are cashed — they only track whether the payment was sent.

If you received a payment but think it was the wrong amount

The most common reason for a wrong amount is a change in your income or dependents between the year you filed and the year the payment was sent. If your income went down, you might have been may have access to to a larger payment. If you had a new child, you might have been may have access to to an additional $500 per child. The IRS did not recalculate based on later information, so you would need to claim the difference on your tax return.

To claim a larger payment, you would file your taxes for the year the payment was sent and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for the difference. For example, if you received $1,200 in 2021 but had a child born in 2021, you could claim an additional $1,400 on your 2021 tax return (the $1,400 payment you should have received minus the $1,200 you did receive).

If you received a larger payment than you think you were may have access to to, you do not have to pay it back. The IRS does not claw back stimulus payments, even if your income was later found to be above the threshold or if you reported incorrect information on your tax return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a stimulus check if I am on Social Security?

Yes. Social Security benefits are not counted as income for stimulus payment purposes, so if your only income is Social Security, you were below the income threshold for all three rounds. You would have received a payment if you filed a tax return or registered during the registration window.

What if I moved and never got my check?

If a check was mailed to an old address, you can contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 and ask them to issue a replacement. However, this window has closed — the IRS is no longer issuing replacement checks for stimulus payments. Your only option now is to claim the payment as a credit on your tax return for the year it was supposed to be sent.

Do I have to report stimulus payments on my taxes?

No. Stimulus payments are not taxable income and do not go on your tax return unless you are claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit because you did not receive a payment you were may have access to to.

What if I received a stimulus payment but was not may have access to to it?

You do not have to pay it back. The IRS does not claw back stimulus payments, and you are not required to report receiving one if you were not may have access to to it. However, if you received a payment under a false Social Security number or by fraud, that is a different matter and could result in criminal charges.

Can I claim a stimulus payment I did not receive if I did not file taxes that year?

Yes. You can file a tax return for that year now and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. You will need to provide your income and dependents for that year, but you do not need to have filed originally. The IRS will calculate what you should have received and add it to your refund.