What the IRS "Get My Payment" tool does

Get My Payment is an IRS tool that shows you the status of a payment the agency has sent to you — usually a tax refund, stimulus payment, or advance Child Tax Credit payment. It tells you whether the payment has been processed, when it was sent, and where it went. You can check it on the IRS website without logging into your tax account.

The tool does not let you change your payment method, request a different amount, or fix an address after the payment has already been issued. It only shows you what has already happened. If you need to change something before a payment goes out, you have to contact the IRS directly or work with a tax professional.

For 2025 payments specifically, the tool will show refunds from your 2024 tax return once the IRS has processed it, plus any ongoing payments like advance Child Tax Credit installments if you received them in 2024 and are still getting them in 2025.

Key Takeaways

  • Get My Payment shows the status of refunds and other IRS payments, but only after the IRS has processed your return or issued the payment.
  • You can check the tool on IRS.gov without creating an account, using your Social Security number, date of birth, and filing status.
  • The tool updates once per day, usually overnight, so checking multiple times in one day will show the same information.
  • If Get My Payment says your payment was sent but you have not received it, the IRS has a separate process to trace it and may reissue it.
  • The tool works best for direct deposits; for checks and debit cards, delivery times depend on the mail carrier or card issuer, not the IRS.

How to access Get My Payment on IRS.gov

Go to irs.gov and search for "Get My Payment" in the search box at the top of the page. The official tool will appear as the first result. Click on it to open the page.

You will see a section that says "Get My Payment Tool" with a blue button. Click that button to start. You do not need to log into an IRS account or create one — the tool works without a login.

The IRS will ask you for three pieces of information: your Social Security number (or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number if you do not have an SSN), your date of birth, and your filing status from your most recent tax return. Enter these exactly as they appear on your return. If any detail is wrong, the tool will not find your information.

After you submit, the tool will show you the status of your payment. If the IRS has not yet processed your return or issued a payment, the tool will tell you that no payment information is available yet.

What each payment status means

The tool shows one of several statuses. "Payment status not available" means the IRS has not yet processed your return or issued a payment. This is normal if you filed recently. The IRS typically processes returns within 21 days of receiving them, though some returns take longer if they need manual review.

"Refund scheduled" means the IRS has processed your return and calculated your refund, but has not yet sent it. The tool will show you the date the payment will be sent. This usually happens within a few days of the status changing.

"Refund sent" means the IRS has released the payment. The tool will show the date it was sent and the method — direct deposit to your bank account, a check by mail, or a debit card. For direct deposits, the money usually arrives within one to two business days after the IRS sends it. For checks, delivery depends on the postal service and can take one to three weeks. For debit cards, the card issuer controls when the funds appear.

"Refund received" appears only for certain payment types and means the payment has been delivered. Not all payments show this status; direct deposits often stop showing a status once they are sent, because the IRS does not track them after they leave its system.

Why your payment might not show up yet

If you filed your 2024 tax return recently, the IRS has not yet processed it. The agency works through returns in the order they were received, and processing takes time — especially if your return includes certain credits, deductions, or income types that require extra review. The IRS publishes processing times on its website; you can check how long returns filed on your date are currently taking.

If you filed weeks ago and Get My Payment still says no information is available, your return may be in a queue for manual review. This happens when the return has inconsistencies, missing information, or triggers IRS verification procedures. You can check the status of your return separately using the IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool, which is different from Get My Payment and shows more detail about returns still being processed.

If you are expecting a payment other than a refund — such as an advance Child Tax Credit payment or a stimulus payment — Get My Payment will only show it if the IRS has issued it. These payments are sent on set schedules, and the tool will show the status once the payment has been released.

What to do if your payment was sent but you have not received it

If Get My Payment says your refund was sent by direct deposit but the money has not appeared in your bank account after two business days, contact your bank first. Ask them to confirm they received the deposit and whether it is pending or has been rejected. Banks occasionally reject IRS deposits if the account number or routing number on file is incorrect or if the account has been closed.

If your bank confirms they did not receive the deposit, or if your refund was sent by check or debit card and you have not received it after the expected delivery time, you can file a claim with the IRS. Go to irs.gov and search for "Refund Trace" to start the process. You will need to provide your Social Security number, the amount of the refund, and the date it was sent. The IRS will investigate and either locate the payment or reissue it.

For checks, the IRS recommends waiting at least four weeks after the send date before filing a trace, because mail delivery can be slow. For direct deposits, you can file a trace when ready if your bank confirms they did not receive it. For debit cards, contact the card issuer's customer service line — the number is on the back of the card — and ask them to trace the deposit.

Differences between Get My Payment and Where's My Refund

The IRS has two separate tools, and they serve different purposes. "Where's My Refund?" tracks your tax return while it is being processed by the IRS — it shows whether the return has been received, is being reviewed, or is ready for payment. "Get My Payment" shows the status of the payment itself once it has been issued.

Use "Where's My Refund?" if you filed your return and want to know if the IRS has received it and how far along it is in processing. Use "Get My Payment" if the IRS has already processed your return and you want to know when and how your refund will be sent, or to confirm it has been sent.

Both tools are free and do not require a login. Both update once per day, usually overnight, so checking multiple times in one day will show the same information. If you check "Where's My Refund?" and it says your return is approved and a refund is being issued, you can then check "Get My Payment" to see the payment status and expected delivery date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my bank account or mailing address using Get My Payment?

No. Get My Payment only shows the status of a payment that has already been issued. If you need to change where your refund goes, you must contact the IRS before your return is processed. Once the IRS has issued a payment, you cannot redirect it through Get My Payment. If the payment was sent to the wrong account or address, you will need to file a refund trace and request reissuance.

How often does Get My Payment update?

The tool updates once per day, usually overnight. Checking it multiple times in one day will show the same information. If you checked it yesterday and the status has not changed, checking again this morning may show an update, but checking again this afternoon will likely show the same status as this morning.

What if Get My Payment says my refund was sent but my bank says they never received it?

Contact your bank first to confirm the deposit was rejected or never arrived. If your bank confirms this, file a refund trace with the IRS by searching "Refund Trace" on irs.gov. Provide your Social Security number, the refund amount, and the send date. The IRS will investigate and reissue the payment if it was lost.

Does Get My Payment work for state tax refunds?

No. Get My Payment is an IRS tool and only shows federal tax refunds and federal payments. For your state tax refund, you will need to check your state's tax agency website. Each state has its own refund tracking tool.

Why does Get My Payment say no information is available even though I filed weeks ago?

Your return may still be processing, especially if it includes credits, deductions, or income that requires extra review. Use "Where's My Refund?" instead to see more detail about your return's processing status. If "Where's My Refund?" also shows no information, your return may not have been received yet — check that you filed it correctly and that the IRS has your correct address.