Macky-Mac
macrumors 68040
I'm also getting the “Payment Status Not Available” as are a number of people I know
How Will You Spend The Stimulus Money?
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I'm also getting the “Payment Status Not Available” as are a number of people I know
compwiz1202
macrumors 604
Now that time has gone by, I think top two not including usual bills are Vudu and Grubhub.
DianaMR
macrumors 65816
Yes, I did generate the payment from my bank account, but still showing status not available.
honestone33
Suspended
Sorry to hear that. Seems like the IRS needs to get their act together. For my wife and I, even though we have been receiving our Social Security Payments via direct deposit for the last 13 years, the message each of us got is:
"We scheduled your check to be mailed on April 24, 2020 to the address we have on file for you.
We will mail you a letter with additional information on this payment.
If you need additional help or do not receive your payment, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page."
The "mailed" is what I don't understand. But at least the IRS is sending me something (my wife got the exact same message). But why it does not say something like "via direct deposit" is perplexing. We do file our taxes every year, and for tax years 2018 and 2019 (that one just filed recently), we did not have to pay anything, nor were due a refund. But both returns definitely had information about our Social Security Income.
Macky-Mac
macrumors 68040
alas, unfortunately it isn't the Social Security administration that's sending out the money, but rather the IRS.
I suspect ............which is to say, no, I don't know for sure.....but I suspect the IRS is only using the the information they already have, which would be the quickest way to start sending out the money....for most people anyway. From what you say, you didn't get a refund for 2018 or 2019 so they wont find your bank account info in your tax returns for those two years.
yes, yes, and yes.... as you said earlier, they have a "zillion" other sources they could check through to find a bank account number for you, including social security......but at least they're mailing you a check on the 24th......some of us haven't any idea what's going on since we're getting "payment status not available" messages.
The IRS keeps warning that it could be well into summer before they're done sending out payments......so consider yourself lucky to be getting one before the end of the month.
Feel free to curse the IRS on behalf of all of us.
honestone33
Suspended
Yes, I know that. But the IRS has stated that they would use the direct deposit information for Social Security recipients like my wife and I to distribute the funds.
As I said, for individuals like my wife and I, they would use the direct deposit information from the SSA. And in fact for folks who don't need to file like my wife and I (again, because our income is from Social Security), again the deposit information would come via the SSA.
True, true, and true....but I would rather they use the direct deposit mechanism like they said they would.
I'm actually surprised that if they are mailing it, I would be getting it "early". But Social Security recipients are supposed to be in the early mailings/deposits.
You bet I will, even if it is a direct deposit, given then that they would have stated it incorrectly.
LizKat
macrumors 604
You're probably right that if you didn't get a refund in 2018 or 2019, there's no particular reason for the the main "did they file?" databases for those years to have bank account info for where to send a refund deposit... even if in prior years there was a refund and so bank info in the data.
The other thing is the income cap in the legislation for the stimulus payment.
If you get Social Security and the amount distributed monthly suggests no need to file a return, they can't just spin off a direct deposit $1200 or a $1200 check on basis of that info. They'd still have to check their tax databases to see if total adjusted income for the person (or couple if married) topped the cap.
If the SS recipient's tax info has not been filed for 2019 or 2019 then they probably resort to checking other tax related databases, like the one where they keep the 2019 Form-1099 income statements from payers --including the SSA-- to that person (and for the couple if the Social Security database says the person is married).
So I can see it taking awhile, since resolving whether the cap thing applies can slow the process down. Otherwise for SS recipients the feds could skip the tax filng prowls and just spin the $1200 payments off data for Social Security disbursement records each week in April.
Macky-Mac
macrumors 68040
My recollection is that was for SS recipients who, unlike you and your wife, didn't file tax returns for 2018 or 2019. Initially they wanted those non-filers to file a special form to submit their bank info but political pressure lead them to back down and agree to get the info from SS.
In your case, you said you DID file, so I'm assuming they looked at your tax returns for those two years and are sending you a check since they didn't find bank info
I can understand that you'd prefer getting a direct deposit.....so would I......but I'd much rather that they were sending me a check in 3 days instead of leaving me in complete limbo over the whole situation
In any event, let's hope your check actually shows up next week and enjoy it if it does.
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imrazor
macrumors 6502
I already got my stimulus money, coincidentally on my birthday. It being my birthday, I pooled it with my tax refund and got myself a birthday present. Me being the generous soul that I am, I got myself a Macbook Pro.
On a more serious note, I've got an old-school Macbook Air, but it just doesn't do what I need it to. The main thing that's been holding me back is the godawful butterfly keyboard and poor thermals. Since both problems are now (hopefully) solved, I had no problem ponying up for a Mac laptop with some horsepower.
On a more serious note, I've got an old-school Macbook Air, but it just doesn't do what I need it to. The main thing that's been holding me back is the godawful butterfly keyboard and poor thermals. Since both problems are now (hopefully) solved, I had no problem ponying up for a Mac laptop with some horsepower.
Gregg2
macrumors 604
It seems to make little sense to send money to every taxpayer. Those who don't need it, like many who've posted here could be passed over in order to really help folks that are struggling. No, I'm not sure how the government could sort that out. It is the government we're talking about.
There was another stimulus bill being proposed that talked about 2K a month for while this debacle lasts. I also think at one point they were talking about giving us 1k a month as supplement income too. That was a year or so ago back. Haven’t followed but hope whoever suggested that is still in the running.
DianaMR
macrumors 65816
They aren’t sending the money to every taxpayer. There are income limits that will keep a large number of people from getting it. Fortunately or unfortunately that doesn’t effect me though I still haven’t gotten mine. Portal is still showing Not Available.
honestone33
Suspended
My understanding is that for SS recipients like my wife and I, the IRS would use direct deposit information for those monthly payments. Now, if such individuals did not file a return for 2018 or 2019, not sure what the mechanism the IRS would use to obtain the direct deposit information. For those who did file a 2018 return (and a 2019 return, although that deadline has been extended), yes, if they either have to pay or obtain a refund, as long as direct deposit information is provided, that should be what the IRS uses. But for folks like my wife and I who neither needed to pay nor get a refund, the IRS would use the fact from our FORM SSA-1099 - SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT STATEMENT to obtain the direct deposit information (if it exists, which for my wife and I it does).
The other thing I did back on March 29th was file a 2020 Estimated Taxes "Return", in which I "told" the IRS to take $1 from my account at Wells Fargo that would be used towards my 2020 Taxes. As part of that, I needed to provide the Routing & Transit Number for Wells Fargo, and our account. I did that, and on March 30th, the IRS did debit that account for $1.
So, I have been definitely pro-active in NUMEROUS ways for the IRS to have my banking information.
In any event, no deposit today (but my wife's April Social Security was deposited, as expected).
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Gregg2
macrumors 604
Oh yeah, I knew that. Still seems like an awful lot of people will get it who don't need it to sustain their usual spending habits. Many have posted here saying they will use it to buy a present for their own pleasure. At least it will help businesses sell more stuff.
Overthinking the details
For a single person, the $1200 payment is phased out for an adjusted gross income between $75,000 and $99,000, reduced by $5 for each $100 over $75,000. The AGI is based on the 2019 tax return, or the 2018 return if the 2019 return hasn't yet been filed. I don't think we know when that determination is made. If it's at the time that the check is being prepared, i.e., not from the date that the stimulus bill was passed, then some taxpayers had a window of opportunity to file or not file their 2019 taxes, which would determine whether the formula was applied to their 2018 return or their 2019 return. Now suppose this was the case. Which return would they prefer?
For most people it won't make a difference. But if their AGI went up or down between those years, and either AGI is in the $75,000-$99,000 range, then they may benefit from using the tax return with the lower AGI. For most people, income gradually rises over their working career, then drops in retirement, so the first rule of thumb would be to rely on your 2018 return if you are working, but your 2019 return if you retired last year. But of course there are exceptions.
Example: John Doe got a raise that resulted in a 3% increase in his AGI between 2018 and 2019. If his 2018 AGI was $72,815 or less, it doesn't matter whether he files his 2019 return. If his 2018 AGI was between $72,816 and $98,999, and he has a choice, then he should not file his 2019 tax return until after the stimulus check has been drawn. If his 2018 AGI was $99,000 or higher, he won't get a stimulus check in either case.
Special circumstances like a change in tax status (e.g., after a marriage) can change the logic. A couple who married in 2019 and filed jointly for the first time might come out ahead with their separate 2018 returns, especially if one partner earned more than the other. And if a citizen was married to a non-citizen who obtained a green card and a Social Security Number in 2019, and they filed jointly for 2018, then they would get no stimulus check based on their 2018 return (because couples where one has no SSN are denied checks). But they would get a check based on their 2019 jointly-filed return. That's a difference of $2400 based on when they file their 2019 return!
In theory, evildoers with high incomes could have filed a 2019 return with a falsely low AGI (and perhaps some extra children), waited for their stimulus check, and then filed an amended return with their correct AGI. Would the IRS catch that? Would they end up convicted of tax fraud? Or would they get away with the crime of the century? Feel free to speculate.
Out of the hypothetical world, back in the real world
I hope that everyone who needs their check has gotten it or will have it very soon.
Hieveryone
macrumors 603
I never got any money... 🤷♂️
But if I had gotten it, I probably would have just deposited it in the bank
[automerge]1587691839[/automerge]
1200 isn't really a lot for most Americans in terms of bills I would think especially if its just a one time payment
But if I had gotten it, I probably would have just deposited it in the bank
[automerge]1587691839[/automerge]
1200 isn't really a lot for most Americans in terms of bills I would think especially if its just a one time payment
honestone33
Suspended
I just read, on yahoo.com, that checks were being mailed this week to folks who do not have banking information on file. As I have mentioned before, for both my wife and I, the message each of us gets on the IRS site is:
"We scheduled your check to be mailed on April 24, 2020 to the address we have on file for you.
We will mail you a letter with additional information on this payment.
If you need additional help or do not receive your payment, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page."
We do have our bank information on file, but that message seems to imply that we are in this week's mailing of the checks. Rather annoyed by that, but as long as we get the checks (hopefully no later than Tuesday), for now it's OK. Still, need to get to the bottom as to why the IRS does not "see" our bank information.
You have to had gotten a refund or something deposited in your account in the past. If you pay taxes using an account that doesn’t count.
honestone33
Suspended
But the IRS also has stated they would use the deposit information for Social Security recipients like my wife and I, and we have been having our benefit checks deposited into our account since June 2006.
Macky-Mac
macrumors 68040
and did anything happen on the 24th? was there a deposit? or a notice that a check had gone out? nothing?
honestone33
Suspended
No, nothing, nada. I suspect they mailed it on the 24th, and given we are located on the West Coast, it will take a few days. Still rather frustrating, given how many sources the IRS has for my direct deposit information.
This post will be interesting to you, me,and about 3 other people but here it goes:
1)I'm in the same situation as you.... SS payments,receive tax refunds every year except this year I filed an amended return and still waiting for that refund.According to their guidelines that qualifies as a direct deposit.
2)Also gave me a 4/24 mailing date.I checked to see if was just a blanket response and mine would be direct deposit on the 24th but no go.
3) I'm also on the West Coast ( central CA) so if the checks/letter were mailed on the 24th they would probably come from Fresno and arrive no later that 4/29.If coming from East Coast no later than 5/1.
In any case I'm cutting them some slack because this is the government we're talking about and........
"Through April 17, the Treasury and IRS have issued 88.1 million payments totaling $158 billion, which means that roughly 59% of the 150 million eligible households have received their money."
honestone33
Suspended
Understand. I am about 25 miles south of Seattle, so I'm hoping they (one for my wife, and one for me) arrive as soon as possible. Not that we desperately need the funds, but just want to make sure they make it through the US Mail.
And yes, like you, my direct deposit information is there for the IRS' taking. I actually have filed tax returns every year, including ones for tax year 2018 and tax year 2019. For those last 2, did not have to pay anything, nor getting a refund. Thus, for those returns, no direct deposit information was provided. (Many of our prior years did have that information, and it's the same as for the SSA). But both returns did show that about 98% of our income if from the SSA, which (like you) pays our benefits via direct deposit.
With the talk of more payments (talking about $2000 a month per qualifying individual), I'd like to get this direct deposit situation straight with the IRS.
Clix Pix
macrumors Core
The thing some of you people don't seem to realize is that this Stimulus Payment is NOT actually related to the IRS and its own database and files. Yes, the funds are being sent out by the IRS, since they are the government department most suited to doing so, but their own tax database files are separate from other US Treasury funds such as Social Security (SSA). That's a whole other database and I suspect that this is a major reason for the confusion now.
A quick preliminary check through the IRS database would pick up most individuals and couples who had filed, but then when there are situations which are not reflected in that, this creates a different scenario, and for those who filed but who didn't receive a refund or who didn't need to pay, either, plus those who didn't file at all, or who had their banking information provided through a third-party source, well, they would fall through the cracks because of the way the IRS database is set up. Someone then trying to amend their return probably only gummed up the works further, adding more confusion rather than clarifying anything. No surprise that there was no direct deposit for them, either.
Hopefully everyone who is entitled to a Stimulus Payment will receive it sooner or later, even if it is by snail-mail rather than by direct deposit.
A quick preliminary check through the IRS database would pick up most individuals and couples who had filed, but then when there are situations which are not reflected in that, this creates a different scenario, and for those who filed but who didn't receive a refund or who didn't need to pay, either, plus those who didn't file at all, or who had their banking information provided through a third-party source, well, they would fall through the cracks because of the way the IRS database is set up. Someone then trying to amend their return probably only gummed up the works further, adding more confusion rather than clarifying anything. No surprise that there was no direct deposit for them, either.
Hopefully everyone who is entitled to a Stimulus Payment will receive it sooner or later, even if it is by snail-mail rather than by direct deposit.
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