Many MA Residents Still Waiting For Coronavirus Stimulus Checks

PEABODY, MA —Heather Scanlon of Peabody has been checking the Internal Revenue Service's Website every few days for an update on when she can expect to receive her stimulus payment from the federal government. So far, every time she has logged in she has gotten messages telling her "Once we have your payment date, we will update this page."

"I’m patient," Scanlon said. "I’m so grateful. I can wait as long as they want."

Not every Massachusetts resident is as patient as Scanlon. While the IRS made 80 million direct deposits last week and has sent out most of the $292 billion in the program Congress approved last month, frustration has been mounting among the millions of Americans still waiting for their payments.

In Scanlon's case, it may because she has previously opted to receive her federal tax return by paper check. While she submitted bank account information to the IRS after the stimulus program was announced, she is still among the people waiting.

"I filed my 2019 taxes in February, nice and early for the first time ever. I’m old school, so I did not want to give the Feds my direct deposit info," Sacnlon said. "I submitted my routing and account number on April 15th to process my $1200 stimulus into my account instead of waiting for a paper check."

People who don't have direct deposit information on file with the IRS are getting paper checks, and the first batch of five million checks has already been sent out. But when you get your check depends on several factors.

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Coronavirus Stimulus Checks FAQ

Who is eligible for stimulus payments?

Individuals who made $75,000 or less in 2018, heads of households who made $112,5000 or less and married couples who made under $150,000 or less in 2018 are eligible for payments.

How much will I get?

Congress approved $1,200 per adult and $500 per child. Some taxpayers have reported smaller-than-expected payments as the IRS garnished the payments to cover previous debts.

When will my stimulus payment arrive?

That depends. The IRS said Social Security recipients who don’t file tax returns can expect their checks by April 29. People who get Supplemental Security Income benefits and veterans benefits but don’t file tax returns should look for their checks in early May.

The rest, according to the Wall Street Journal, will "dribble out as checks are mailed over the next few months, unless people can successfully update their direct-deposit information."

Why is it taking so long?

By most accounts, the IRS is doing a better job of sending out stimulus payments than it did in 2008, when Congress approved a similar measure during the Great Recession. But there are still problems, including:

• People getting error messages on the IRS Website as they try to update their direct deposit information. For the week ended April 17, traffic to the IRS Website was 77 percent higher than it was during the same week last year. Call centers are also seeing heavy volume.
• Some refunds were sent to temporary bank accounts set up to receive refunds, and not the person's main bank account.
• People who file taxes through companies like H&R Block or use tax software like Turbo Tax may also see delays. Many of those taxpayers get their refunds on payment cards with fees deducted by the tax prep company.

"We share our clients’ frustration that many of them have not yet received these much-needed payments due to IRS decisions," H&R Block said in a statement. "We are actively working with the IRS to get stimulus payments sent directly to client accounts."

Visit the IRS Website for more information and to check your payment status.

More Coronavirus Coverage On Massachusetts Patch:

• Local Budgets In Limbo Until State, Feds Act
• Coronavirus Case Counts For Every Massachusetts Town
• 80,000 New Unemployment Claims In Latest Report
• When Will MA Relax Coronavirus Social Distancing Measures?

Dave Copeland writes for Patch and can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).