Unless the IRS and Treasury sent your second stimulus check right before the Jan. 15 cutoff, you may be out of luck getting your $600 payment for each qualifying adult and child dependent this month, whether by paper check, EIP card or direct deposit into bank accounts. However, there are certainly exceptions, and the IRS has a backup plan to help you claim any missing money you didn’t get. But there’s a catch (hint: it will take you more time and you’ll have to wait longer for your stimulus money.)

One exception is if your stimulus money was tangled up in the IRS’ direct deposit mess. Another is if your payment is currently making its way to you in the mail. Everyone else should plan to file for a Recovery Rebate Credit with your 2020 federal tax return. The IRS officially begins processing tax returns on Feb. 12.

We explain everything you need to know, including three options to help trace your stimulus money, a calculator to make sure you can match your stimulus estimate to what you actually receive, and what we know about how filing a stimulus check credit could slow down the arrival of your already-tardy stimulus claim. And yes, that includes any makeup payments for missing kids. 

Here’s also how to trace your payment and what to do if you were overpaid by the IRS. (And here’s what to know about a third stimulus check.)

Your check or EIP card could still arrive in the mail next week, so track that first

The IRS and Treasury sent physical checks at a much faster clip than the first time around, but it isn’t clear how many remain undelivered. Since the USPS may need a few days to sort and deliver your physical check or EIP card, it may be possible you’ll receive it in the next few days, if the Treasury and IRS sent out a batch in the final hours before the Jan. 15 deadline.

However, we also know that with the first check, the US Treasury processed between 5 million and 7 million paper stimulus checks per week, in addition to checks for other federal programs, according to a Government Accountability Office report from June. Given the 17-day window the IRS and Treasury have had to ship out payments, it’s inevitable that not everyone’s would’ve posted before the deadline.

The first thing you should do is use the IRS Get My Payment tool to get tracking information about your second stimulus check. It’ll give you a general payment schedule, the total amount you should expect to receive, and flag any problems you may need to look into — like if there’s an error message or if the tool says the stimulus money was sent weeks ago and you never got it.

Then, if the IRS Get My Payment tool says it’s coming, use this free USPS service to track your stimulus check to your mailbox. 

It’s too late for direct deposit now, but there are some things you need to know

The IRS and Treasury said they have sent over 100 million stimulus payments through direct deposit this time around, a payment method that allows the agency to process many more payments faster. However, the IRS’ tracking tool didn’t let people sign up for or change their direct deposit information this time around. And some people reported problems with checks being sent to the wrong bank account, which means millions haven’t been able to receive their stimulus payments that way. 

If the IRS doesn’t already have your banking information, you have no choice but to wait for the mail. If there’s a problem with your payment, you’ll need to file a claim during tax time (more below.) If you didn’t get your second stimulus check this way, but want to receive a future third stimulus check through direct deposit, you’ll want to register with the IRS on your 2020 tax return.

You can set up a payment trace with the IRS for your check

Another way to track your missing stimulus check is through a payment trace. This gets a bit complicated, but we have a guide to walk you through the IRS payment trace process. There are several scenarios that may apply to you, but it boils down to the IRS saying it sent a stimulus check you never received.

You can’t claim your missing money until Feb. 12 at the earliest

Here’s the bad news. If you’re missing all or part of what the IRS owes you with your first or second stimulus check — we recommend using the first stimulus calculator and second stimulus calculator to get an estimate — you’ll need to claim the amount as a Recovery Rebate Credit as part of the 2020 Tax Season to claim the money. Any credit would either offset the amount you owe, or get bundled into your tax refund.

The longer you wait to file your taxes, the longer you wait for your stimulus money

Now that we are past the cutoff, the timing of your stimulus check delivery is now inextricably linked to your taxes. Feb. 12 is the first day you can file your taxes, including the Recovery Rebate Credit to get your errant second stimulus payment. But you’ll have until April 15 to file taxes and some people may request a tax extension beyond that.

How soon you submit your taxes for 2020 could have a direct effect on how quickly the IRS is able to process your return. People who file their returns in February would likely receive their stimulus check credit months before people who wait until the April 15 deadline or later.

If you moved, you have to tell the IRS and USPS, too

 If you’ve recently moved, be sure to tell the IRS and USPS so you can get any stimulus money owed to you (and a third stimulus check, too). You also need your updated address on file so you can receive your confirmation letter from the IRS (you’ll need this if you have to file a claim.)

The IRS really doesn’t want to take your phone call

Sorry, it’s true. In May 2020, the IRS hired 3,500 telephone operators to help field incoming calls about the first stimulus check. Now its website implores you not to call. 

“Please do not call the IRS about the new payment; our phone assistors do not have additional information beyond what’s available here on IRS.gov and in the Get My Payment application,” the IRS website says.

Here’s what the agency wants you to do instead, including initiating a payment trace (see above).

What if you receive Social Security benefits, are an older adult, don’t file taxes, are incarcerated or are in a child support scenario?

There may be some specific scenarios that have specific rules or exceptions. We’re trying to get answers from the IRS, but until then, here’s what we know about stimulus check money in general for:

• People who are missing $500 allotted for their child dependents from the first stimulus check.

• Those who pay or receive child support.
• Tax non-filers who may be owed a stimulus check.
• Older adults, veterans, retired people and railroad workers.
• People who receive SSI or SSDI benefits.
• US citizens abroad, people who live in a US territory, and noncitizens.
• People who are incarcerated.

For more information, here are the most important stimulus check details to know, here’s how a third stimulus check might happen, all the ways it could bring you more money and how to calculate your share of a $2,000 check.