How to Track Your IRS Refund or Payment Using Get My Payment
What the IRS Get My Payment tool does
Get My Payment is a free tool on the IRS website that shows you the status of a tax refund or an economic impact payment (stimulus check). It tells you whether the IRS has processed your payment, when it will arrive, and how it will reach you — by direct deposit to your bank account or by mail as a check or debit card.
You can check the status of refunds from any tax year the IRS still processes, plus any stimulus payments sent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The tool updates once per day, usually overnight, so checking multiple times in a single day will show the same information.
Get My Payment does not let you change your bank account, request a different payment method, or speed up processing. It is a lookup tool only. If you need to change how the IRS sends your money, you will need to take a different step depending on what you are trying to change.
Key Takeaways
- Get My Payment requires your Social Security number, date of birth, and filing status to look up your refund or stimulus payment status.
- The tool shows you the payment date, the method (direct deposit or mail), and the amount — but only after the IRS has processed your return.
- If your refund is still being processed, Get My Payment will tell you that, but it cannot tell you why or speed up the work.
- You can change your bank account for a refund only before the IRS issues the payment; after that, you must wait for the check or card and deposit it yourself.
- Get My Payment updates once per day, so checking it multiple times will not show new information until the next calendar day.
How to access Get My Payment on the IRS website
Go to irs.gov and search for "Get My Payment" or navigate directly to the tool through the IRS homepage. You do not need to log into an IRS account; the tool works without one.
Enter 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 tax return. The tool will then display the status of your refund or stimulus payment. If the IRS has not yet processed your return, the tool will say so and may give you an estimated date when it will have information to show.
If you are looking up a payment for someone else — a spouse, a dependent, or a minor — you will need that person's Social Security number and date of birth. You cannot look up someone else's payment using your own information.
What Get My Payment tells you and what it does not
Once the IRS has processed your return, Get My Payment shows three pieces of information: the payment amount, the payment date (or date range), and the payment method. If the IRS is sending your refund by direct deposit, it will show the last four digits of the bank account where the money will land. If it is mailing a check or debit card, it will show an expected delivery date.
Get My Payment does not tell you why your refund is delayed, whether there is a problem with your return, or what the IRS is doing with it. If your return is still under review — for example, because the IRS is verifying income or checking for errors — the tool will only say "processing" or give you a date to check back. It will not explain what is being checked or how long it might take.
The tool also does not let you change your payment method once the IRS has issued the payment. If you see that a check is coming and you want direct deposit instead, you cannot change it through Get My Payment. You will have to wait for the check to arrive, then deposit it yourself or cash it.
Changing your bank account before the payment is issued
If Get My Payment shows that your refund is still being processed — meaning the payment has not yet been issued — you may be able to change your bank account. The window to do this is narrow: you must change it before the IRS actually sends the money out.
To change your bank account, you will need to file an amended return using Form 1040-X (Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) and include the new bank account information. You can file Form 1040-X by mail or through tax software that supports amended returns. Filing by mail is slower; filing electronically through software is faster but may have a fee depending on the software.
Once you file the amended return, the IRS will process it in its normal order. There is no way to rush it or to confirm that your new bank account information has been received. If the original refund is issued before the amended return is processed, the money will go to the old account, and you will have to contact your bank to recover it or wait for a check in the mail.
What to do if Get My Payment shows an error or no information
If Get My Payment says it cannot find your information, double-check that you entered your Social Security number, date of birth, and filing status correctly. A single digit wrong will cause the tool to return no results. If you are certain your information is correct and the tool still shows nothing, it usually means the IRS has not yet processed your return.
If Get My Payment shows a payment amount or date that you believe is wrong — for example, the amount is less than you expected — you will need to contact the IRS directly. You can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 (the main IRS customer service line) or visit a local IRS office. Have your tax return, Social Security number, and any documents related to your income ready when you call.
If you believe your refund was lost in the mail or deposited to the wrong account, contact the IRS as soon as possible. The IRS can issue a replacement check or investigate a deposit to a wrong account, but the process takes time and requires documentation.
How long refunds typically take after Get My Payment shows a date
Once Get My Payment shows a payment date, the timing depends on the payment method. If the IRS is sending your refund by direct deposit, the money usually arrives within one to two business days of the date shown. If the IRS is mailing a check, delivery typically takes seven to ten business days from the date shown, though mail can be slower depending on where you live and where the check is mailed from.
If the payment date has passed and you have not received your refund, wait a few more business days before contacting the IRS. Mail delays are common, especially during tax season. If more than two weeks have passed since the date shown in Get My Payment and you still have not received a direct deposit, or more than three weeks for a mailed check, contact the IRS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Get My Payment to check on a payment for my child or dependent?
No. Get My Payment requires the Social Security number and date of birth of the person whose payment you are looking up. If you are checking on a dependent's stimulus payment, you will need their Social Security number. You cannot look up their payment using your own information, even if they are claimed on your tax return.
What if Get My Payment says my refund was issued but I never received it?
If the payment date has passed, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 with your Social Security number and the amount shown in Get My Payment. The IRS can trace where the payment went and issue a replacement if it was lost or sent to the wrong account. This process can take several weeks.
Does Get My Payment work for state tax refunds?
No. Get My Payment is a federal tool only and shows only IRS refunds and federal stimulus payments. To check on a state tax refund, visit your state's department of revenue website or call your state's tax office directly.
Can I change my direct deposit information through Get My Payment?
No. Get My Payment only shows your payment status. To change your bank account before the payment is issued, you must file an amended return using Form 1040-X. Once the IRS has issued the payment, you cannot change where it goes through any IRS tool.
Why does Get My Payment say "processing" with no date?
This means the IRS is still working on your return and has not yet decided when to issue your refund. This can happen if the IRS is verifying information, checking for errors, or processing a large volume of returns. Check back in a few days. The tool will update once the IRS has made a decision.