I did not get my first stimulus check, how can I find out if I was eligible and how can I claim that money?

[joellyn20]

It is now March 26, and I got the 2nd and the 3rd stimulus check.  I filed my tax return on 02/08 and did the Recovery Rebate, which is how I'm sure I got the 2nd check but I've spent way too many days and hours trying to find the answer to this mysterious missing first stimulus check and if I'm not going to get it, I was told I have a right to find out why I didn't get it because I do owe back taxes, and they told me they aren't allowed to withhold the check because of my owing taxes, but I don't know what to think.  I was eligible for the 2nd and 3rd, what happened to the 1st?  Makes absolutely no sense to me.  And must not to a lot of people I have asked either.

[ThomasM125]

TurboTax has no authority to check on the status of your stimulus check or troubleshoot problems with it with the IRS. For privacy and security reasons, you are the only one who can do that. You can call the IRS at 1-800-919-9835 to check on the processing of your stimulus check.

You can also check online by using this link:

https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment

[joellyn20]

Thanks for trying to help but that’s what I’m talking about when I say I’ve spent days and hours trying to find answers.  That link took me to the Get my Payment page and it is no longer any good for first and second stimulus checks, only third stimulus checks.  I can’t find any information on the first stimulus checks.

[VolvoGirl]

If you didn't get the first Stimulus payment it should have been reconciled and added to your return with the second Recovery rebate credit on line 30.  How much is on line 30?  Then if the IRS had sent it to you or kept it they would have adjusted your refund and you would know for sure.

[joellyn20]

Thanks for asking that question, because I wondered if that’s the problem.  The amount on line 30 is $1800.  I had gotten my second stimulus check before the IRS had a chance to accept my return.  So I’m wondering if I’m supposed to do an amend an change that line 30 to $1200?  Or does the IRS adjust that for us if they intend to give us both checks?

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

Well 1800 would be the amount for both for Single.  Did you file?  The IRS will adjust it if they sent you the second one and first one.  You do not need to amend.  So you already know they are going to take off the second 600.  How much was the total refund suppose to be?  Was it more than 1800?  Will you still have a refund if they take off the full 1800?  Hope you don't end up owing.

[joellyn20]

I’ll never get any tax refunds because they apply it to what I owe in back taxes.  But I did get the $600 and surprisingly enough I got the $1400 real fast, on the first Saturday after it was announced they were going to be sending them out.  But still no first one, and the IRS is always saying they haven’t processed my return yet, abd I will have to pay penalties if I don’t file by the deadline, grrr, I filed early, on 02/08 and this mess is driving me nuts.    There’s no information on how to find out if I’m going to get my first stimulus check and if not, why.  It doesn’t do any good to call them because they’re not allowed to know your security info which means they can’t dig and see what’s happening with your stimulus check, etc. IRS has many phone numbers and not one of them is helpful 

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

You can only get the first stimulus check on your 2020 tax return.  It was on your 1040 line 30.  1800 was 1200 for the first one and 600 for the second one.    They took off the 600 because they sent it to you separately.  Don't know if they will apply the first 1200 to your back taxes.  How much was your federal refund suppose to be? 

[joellyn20]

5360.00; can they actually apply my first stimulus check against my back taxes?  I was told from so many people they’re not allowed to do that, anymore than we don’t have to claim that on next years taxes.

[timboasa12]

I got my first one sent to me and my second one was sent to my old house and now I can't get my second payment but I got my third payment on direct deposit

[Critter-3]

The first 2 stimulus payments that were sent in advance could not be grabbed to pay for back taxes  HOWEVER  if you did not get any or all of the ADVANCE payments then your only option now is to get the CREDIT on your 2020 tax return  which is reported on the form 1040 line 30.   Sadly  any refund on the tax return can and will be taken to pay off any outstanding IRS debts even the portion on line 30.  Sorry but that is how the rules were written.  

[timboasa12]

I typed my message wrong I meant to say I got my first check in the mail, but I moved and forgot to change my address.. therefore my second one got sent to that same house and from what I know the mail lady took it back to the post office to send back. The third check came directly to my bank account.. so I'm trying to figure it out 

[Critter-3]

If you did not get the second check by now then your ONLY option is to use the Credit on the 2020 return. 

[kathie59]

we have not got our first and second stimulus check, I want to know if we are still elagable to receive them?

[kathie59]

How do I do that?