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Financestimulus

The IRS officially starts depositing stimulus checks

By
Lance Lambert
Lance Lambert
Former Real Estate Editor
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By
Lance Lambert
Lance Lambert
Former Real Estate Editor
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March 17, 2021, 9:08 AM ET

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The Internal Revenue Service officially started depositing stimulus checks at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, March 17.

Not all eligible taxpayers will receive their money on Wednesday. Like the previous rounds, it’ll take weeks for all the checks to arrive. Taxpayers who don’t have their bank accounts on file at the IRS, for instance, will receive their checks via mail, and the IRS hasn’t said yet when paper checks will start to arrive.

Similar to past rounds, taxpayers can track their third stimulus payment on the “Get My Payment” portal on the IRS.gov website. If your status says “Payment Status Not Available,” here’s what to know.

The $1.9 trillion economic relief package passed last week sends a $1,400 stimulus check to single filers earning up to $75,000, or a $2,800 check to couples filing jointly earning up to $150,000. Taxpayers earning above that level could still get a reduced check. However, no payments will be sent to single filers earning above $80,000, or couples earning jointly above $160,000.

The earnings limits are based on your adjusted gross income (AGI) found in your most recent tax filing. That would be either your 2019 or 2020 tax return.

Eligible taxpayers will also get a $1,400 check for each of their child or adult dependents.

About the Author
By Lance LambertFormer Real Estate Editor
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Lance Lambert is a former Fortune editor who contributes to the Fortune Analytics newsletter.

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