Many people visited the 2020 stimulus check direct deposit web portal recently only to be met with a message that says “Payment Status Not Available”.
Further, the message goes on to say, “According to information that we have on file, we cannot determine your eligibility for payment at this time.
For more information on the eligibility rules, see our Frequently Asked Questions page.”
This has been extremely disappointing to many Americans who were hoping to access the direct deposit web portal to provide the IRS with their direct deposit information so that they get their 2020 stimulus check much quicker because they are in dire financial circumstances.
As the Senate reviews the Heroes Act, and Americans realize that a second stimulus check payment may well be on the way (find out how much and when), let’s hope that these Payment Status Not Available messages are remedied.
The problem with this Payment Status Not Available message that many Americans are receiving is that they do not think that the reasons for this message are valid.
On this page, the IRS lists four reasons that you may be receiving the Payment Status Not Available message. They are paraphrased as follows:
- You may not be eligible for payment.
- You are required to file a tax return and have not done so.
- You have recently entered information on the Non-Filers page.
- You may be an SSA or RRB form 1099 recipient, SSI or VA recipient – the IRS is working with these agencies to get things squared away.
The problem with these reasons is that many people feel that they do not fit any of those circumstances.
Though the IRS currently says the Get My Payment website is operating smoothly and effectively, there have been many reports to the contrary.
So, if you believe that you are receiving the Payment Status Not Available in error because your situation does not match any of the four reasons given to receive this message, the best advice would be to check back each day.
In fact, the IRS mentions that you “can check the app again to see whether there has been an update to your information” and would like to remind everyone that “the data is updated once per day, so there’s no need to check back more frequently.”
The IRS seems to be sending slightly mixed messages. They’re saying it is certainly one of these four reasons, but just in case, come back tomorrow and have another look.
As I said, a lot of people are mentioning that they don’t fit into any of those four reasons. and so for those people, the recommendation would be to go back to the site each day and it will hopefully have been updated with the latest, accurate information.
May 28th, 2020 Update: Fortunately, many people reported the Payment Status Not Available message disappeared when they checked back after a few days.
Good luck to all. May you find peace and love in these challenging times!
Richard Cummings
Get your copy of his latest book entitled Obvious Conclusions, stories of a Midwestern emigrant influenced and corrupted by many years living in San Francisco and abroad. It just received its first outstanding review "...reminiscent of David Sedaris or Augusten Burroughs" on Amazon UK.
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Comments 4
I am one of those who continue to get the message “Payment Status Not Available”. I think that one reason that the rules for eligibility which most people writing about this status including the IRS do mention often is the ‘Valid social security number’. for example, I have a valid ss number but my wife, although she had a valid number and a green card. We live overseas and during one of our trips to the USA in 2016, we were asked to hand in the card because my wife violated the rules of staying too long out of the USA. We were told we could reapply and get the card back anytime. But it looks like they considered her non-resident alien. My only income is from social security. My wife does work. My 2019 SSA-1099 reported that my income was $22,176. My adjusted gross income is 0. I wish they would spell it out and report our status as ‘not eligible. I am deprived from the payment because of my alien wife. Lot of Americans are in the same situation. I do not know why the ambiguity. Just come out and
say it. Please add this problem to your possibilities of the ‘Payment Status Not Available’ status.
Thanks
I haven’t gotten my check early
July 26, 2020. NO PAYMENT RECEIVED. “Payment Status Not Available” PLEASE ADVISE!
– U.S. citizen / U.S. resident. Check!
– Under $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns. Check!
– Never filed for or received Social Security retirement, survivor, or disability benefits (SSDI), Railroad Retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and VA Compensation and Pension (C&P), Check!
– 2019 return filed April 15,2020. Refund received to my Bank Account. Check!
– All prior returns filed for over 20 years. Same Address. Same Account, over 20 Years.
– Bank Information on file for 20 plus years. Check!
PLEASE ADVISE. What am I missing?
The get my payment tracking tool says Not Available for my payment. I did get the 2020 $1200 payment but now am waiting for my $600 payment for 2021. I filed taxes in 2018 but not 2019. I am getting Social Security and H&R Block said I don’t have to file any more. So I didn’t file for 2019. I am suppose to get the money but what is the hold up? I received the $1200 in my direct deposit.