How to Track Your IRS Payment Using the Get My Payment Tool
What the IRS Get My Payment tool does
Get My Payment is an IRS online tool that shows you the status of a payment the IRS sent to you — usually a tax refund, economic impact payment (stimulus check), or advance child tax credit payment. You enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and street address, and the tool tells you whether the payment was mailed, deposited to your bank account, or is still being processed.
The tool does not let you change your payment method, request a different address, or speed up processing. It only shows you where your money is and when it should arrive. If you need to change how or where the IRS sends your payment, you will need to file a tax return, contact the IRS directly, or work with a tax professional.
Get My Payment is free and available 24 hours a day on the IRS website. You do not need to create an account or log into anything else — you just need your Social Security number and the information from your tax return or IRS notice.
Key Takeaways
- Get My Payment shows the status of refunds, stimulus payments, and advance child tax credit payments, but only if the IRS has already processed your return or sent the payment.
- 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 mailed, it typically arrives within 21 days of the mailing date, though delivery times vary by location.
- If your payment was deposited to a bank account and you do not see it after the expected date, contact your bank first — the IRS sent it, but your bank may be holding it.
- Get My Payment only works for payments sent after 2020; for older refunds or payments, you will need to contact the IRS directly at 800-829-1040.
How to use Get My Payment step by step
Go to irs.gov and search for "Get My Payment" or navigate directly to the tool. You will see a screen asking for three pieces of information: your Social Security number, your date of birth (in MM/DD/YYYY format), and your street address as it appears on your most recent tax return or IRS notice.
Enter this information exactly as it appears on your return. If you filed jointly with a spouse, use the primary taxpayer's Social Security number (the one listed first on your return). Do not use a nickname, abbreviation, or alternate spelling for your address — use the full legal address.
After you submit, the tool will show one of four statuses: "Payment Status Not Available," "Payment Scheduled," "Payment Sent," or "Payment Delivered." Each status means something different about where your money is in the process.
Understanding each payment status
"Payment Status Not Available" means the IRS has not yet processed your return or sent your payment. This is the most common message if you just filed your return. The IRS typically processes returns within 21 days, though returns with errors, missing information, or those selected for review take longer. Check back in a few days. If you filed weeks ago and still see this message, your return may be held up — contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 with your return confirmation number.
"Payment Scheduled" means the IRS has processed your return and decided to send you a payment, but has not yet mailed or deposited it. The tool will show the date the payment is scheduled to be sent. This status usually appears a few days before the actual payment goes out. Do not expect the payment to arrive on the scheduled date — that is when the IRS sends it, not when you receive it.
"Payment Sent" means the IRS has mailed your check or deposited money to your bank account. If it was mailed, the tool will show the mailing date and the address where it was sent. Checks typically arrive within 21 days of the mailing date, but can take longer depending on mail delivery in your area. If it was deposited, the tool will show the bank account ending in the last four digits.
"Payment Delivered" means your check was delivered to the address on file or your deposit was completed to your bank account. If you chose direct deposit, this status means the money reached your bank — but your bank may take an extra day or two to post it to your account. If you chose a mailed check and see this status but have not received it, contact your local post office or the IRS.
What to do if your payment does not arrive on time
If Get My Payment says your payment was sent but you have not received it after 21 days from the mailing date, the check may be lost in the mail. Contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 with your return confirmation number and the mailing date shown in Get My Payment. The IRS can issue a replacement check or deposit, though this process takes additional time.
If Get My Payment says your payment was delivered to your bank account but you do not see the money in your account after two business days, contact your bank. Banks sometimes hold deposits for verification, especially if the amount is large or the account is new. Your bank can tell you whether the deposit arrived and why it has not posted yet.
If Get My Payment says your payment was mailed to an old address and you have moved, the check may be returned to the IRS. File an amended return (Form 1040-X) with your current address, or contact the IRS to update your address on file. The IRS can then reissue your payment to the correct address.
Why Get My Payment sometimes does not work
Get My Payment will reject your information if any of the three fields — Social Security number, date of birth, or address — does not match exactly what the IRS has on file. Common reasons include using a nickname instead of your legal first name, entering your address with abbreviations (like "St" instead of "Street"), or using a date of birth format the tool does not recognize.
If you get an error message, try entering your information again, paying close attention to spacing, punctuation, and spelling. Use your full legal name and the complete street address from your tax return. If you still cannot access the tool, your return may not have been processed yet, or the IRS may not have sent a payment. Wait a few days and try again, or call 800-829-1040.
Get My Payment only shows payments sent after 2020. If you are looking for a refund or payment from 2019 or earlier, the tool will not find it. Contact the IRS directly at 800-829-1040 or use the Where's My Refund tool on irs.gov, which covers older tax years.
Direct deposit versus mailed checks
If you chose direct deposit on your tax return, the IRS deposits your refund directly into your bank account. Direct deposit is faster than mail — most direct deposits arrive within 5 to 7 business days of the scheduled payment date, though some banks take longer to post the money. Get My Payment will show the last four digits of the account where your deposit was sent.
If you chose a mailed check, the IRS prints and mails it to the address on your return. Mailed checks take 21 days or longer to arrive, depending on mail delivery in your area. Get My Payment will show the mailing date and address. If you move after filing but before your check arrives, contact the post office to forward mail to your new address, or contact the IRS to reissue the check.
You cannot change your payment method using Get My Payment. If you filed for a check but want direct deposit instead, you will need to file an amended return or contact the IRS. If you filed for direct deposit but want a check, you will have to wait for the deposit to arrive and then deposit it yourself, or contact the IRS before the payment is sent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does Get My Payment update?
Get My Payment updates once per day, usually overnight. Checking the tool multiple times in the same day will show the same information. If you checked yesterday and saw "Payment Scheduled," checking today might show "Payment Sent" — but checking three times today will show the same status all three times.
Can I use Get My Payment to check on my spouse's payment?
No. Get My Payment only works for the person whose Social Security number you enter. If you filed a joint return, use the primary taxpayer's Social Security number (the one listed first on your return). If your spouse needs to check their own payment, they will need to use their own Social Security number and date of birth.
What if Get My Payment says my payment was sent to the wrong address?
If you moved after filing your return, contact the post office immediately to request mail forwarding to your new address. If the check is already returned to the IRS, file an amended return (Form 1040-X) with your current address, or call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to update your address and request a replacement payment.
Does Get My Payment work for child tax credit payments or stimulus checks?
Yes. Get My Payment tracks advance child tax credit payments (sent in 2021 and 2022), economic impact payments (stimulus checks from 2020, 2021, and 2022), and tax refunds. Enter your information the same way, and the tool will show the status of whichever payment the IRS sent most recently.
What should I do if Get My Payment says "Payment Status Not Available" weeks after I filed?
Your return may still be processing, or it may be held up for review or missing information. Contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 with your return confirmation number (from your filing receipt). The IRS can tell you whether your return is still being processed or whether there is a problem that needs your attention.