What the $1,390 IRS Payment Is and Who Receives It

The $1,390 IRS payment is a one-time federal payment sent to certain people who filed taxes but did not receive the full amount they were may have access to to from earlier relief programs

This payment corrects an underpayment from the American Rescue Plan Act stimulus rounds. The IRS identified people whose tax returns showed they should have received more money in 2021 stimulus payments than they actually got. The $1,390 represents the difference between what was owed and what arrived in their bank account or mailbox at the time.

The IRS began sending these payments automatically in 2021 and continued into 2022. You do not need to request it or take any action to receive it — the IRS calculates who qualifies based on your filed tax return and your prior stimulus payment history. If you are owed this money, it will arrive as a direct deposit, check, or debit card, depending on how the IRS has your payment information on file.

Key Takeaways

• The $1,390 payment corrects underpayments from 2021 stimulus rounds and is sent automatically by the IRS with no action required from you.
• You receive this payment only if your tax return shows you may have access to for more stimulus money than you actually received in 2021.
• The IRS sends the payment by direct deposit, check, or debit card depending on the banking information on your most recent tax return.
• If you have not received this payment and believe you are owed it, you can contact the IRS or check your account transcript to verify your stimulus payment history.

Who received the $1,390 payment

The IRS sent this payment to people who met specific conditions on their 2020 tax return. Generally, this included people whose income fell below certain thresholds — single filers earning under $75,000, heads of household under $112,500, and married couples filing jointly under $150,000. Your filing status and dependent claims also affected whether you may have access to.

The payment also went to people who filed a 2020 return but did not receive the full amount of the first or second stimulus payment in 2020 and 2021. This happened when someone's circumstances changed between when the payment was sent and when they filed their return, or when the IRS had outdated banking information and the payment was returned.

If you received all the stimulus money you were may have access to to based on your 2020 return, you did not receive this $1,390 payment. The IRS matched each person's 2020 return against their actual payment history to identify the gap.

How the payment was delivered

The IRS sent the $1,390 payment using the same method it used for earlier stimulus rounds. If you received a prior stimulus payment by direct deposit, the $1,390 went to that same bank account. If your earlier payment arrived as a check, this one was mailed as a check to your address on file. Some people received it on an Economic Impact Payment debit card.

Payments began arriving in spring 2021 and continued through 2022. The exact timing depended on the IRS processing schedule and mail delivery. Direct deposits typically arrived within days of the IRS sending them; checks took one to three weeks depending on postal service delays.

If you moved after filing your 2020 return, the IRS may have mailed the check to an old address. The Postal Service can forward mail for up to one year, but after that, unclaimed checks are returned to the IRS.

What to do if you did not receive the $1,390

Start by checking your bank account and mailbox. If you received it as a direct deposit, it may have arrived months ago and been deposited without a clear label. Search your bank statements for a deposit of exactly $1,390 or close to that amount in 2021 or 2022.

If you moved, contact the Postal Service to see if the check was returned. You can file a change of address form online at USPS.com, and the Postal Service can sometimes locate returned mail. If the check was returned to the IRS, you will need to contact the IRS directly.

To reach the IRS, call 1-800-829-1040 during business hours. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the tax year in question ready. You can also visit an IRS office in person, though wait times are often long. The IRS can tell you whether the payment was sent, where it was sent, and whether it was returned.

Checking your stimulus payment history with the IRS

The IRS provides a tool called the "Get My Payment" application on IRS.gov that shows the status of all three stimulus payments from 2020 and 2021. You can enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and street address to see whether each payment was sent and how it was delivered.

You can also request an IRS account transcript, which is a detailed record of your tax account. This transcript shows every payment the IRS sent to you, including stimulus payments, and the date and method of delivery. You can order a transcript free from IRS.gov or by calling 1-800-829-1040.

The transcript will show whether the $1,390 payment was issued, the date it was issued, and the delivery method. If it shows the payment was mailed but you never received it, the IRS can investigate further or issue a replacement check.

If the payment was sent to the wrong account or address

If the IRS sent your $1,390 to a closed bank account, the bank returned it to the IRS. The IRS then typically issues a replacement check and mails it to your current address on file. This process can take several weeks.

If you moved and the check was returned by the Postal Service, the IRS holds it for a period before it becomes unclaimed. You can contact the IRS to request a replacement check sent to your current address. Bring a recent piece of mail showing your current address when you call or visit in person.

If you believe the payment was deposited into an account that is not yours, contact the IRS immediately. Provide the account information where it was deposited and your correct banking details. The IRS can investigate and issue a replacement payment to the correct account, though this process is slower and may require documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the $1,390 payment taxable income?

No. Stimulus payments, including the $1,390 correction payment, are not considered taxable income. You do not report it on your tax return, and it does not affect your tax liability or refund in future years.

Can I claim the $1,390 if I did not receive it?

If you did not receive the payment and the IRS confirms you were owed it, you can claim the amount as a credit on your next tax return. You would report it as a Recovery Rebate Credit on your Form 1040. However, contact the IRS first to confirm whether you are owed it and whether a replacement check is being sent.

What if I received the $1,390 but I think it was a mistake?

Contact the IRS to report it. Do not spend the money until you have confirmed with the IRS that you were not may have access to to it. If you were not owed it and you spent it, the IRS may attempt to recover it through your future tax refunds or by billing you directly.

Does the $1,390 payment affect my benefits or income limits?

Stimulus payments do not count as income for purposes of means-tested programs like Medicaid, SNAP, or housing assistance. However, if you received the payment in a given year, it may affect your income calculation for that year's tax return, which could indirectly affect future benefit determinations. Check with your specific program administrator if you are unsure.

How long do I have to claim the $1,390 if I did not receive it?

You can claim it as a Recovery Rebate Credit on your tax return for the year you were owed it. Generally, you have three years from the original filing deadline to claim a credit or refund. If you are past that window, contact the IRS to discuss your options.