IRS: Last Chance for Direct Deposit Stimulus Payments Is May 13

Who's still waiting for a stimulus check?

The IRS says it expects to send out a total of more than 150 million payments to individuals, meaning 20 million-plus Americans have yet to receive their relief money. Among those are people such as low-income workers who weren't required to file tax returns in 2018 or 2019, the tax years the IRS used to determine eligibility for stimulus payments.

The IRS has another tool on IRS.gov, Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here, where low-income workers and some others who weren't required to file tax returns can register for a stimulus payment and enter bank account information. Keep in mind that the following groups who typically aren't required to file tax returns will receive or already have received $1,200 stimulus payments automatically without the need to register: those who receive Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI) and survivor benefits; Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries; railroad retirees; and Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries.

Paper checks will take longer to arrive

After noon Wednesday, the IRS will begin preparing millions of files to send to the Bureau of Financial Services for paper checks that will begin arriving through late May and into June. Taxpayers who use the tools on IRS.gov before that cutoff can still take advantage of entering direct deposit information.

If you don't have a bank account, consider opening a low-cost online checking account for direct deposit. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has a handy tool for finding banks that will let you open an account online so you can get your stimulus check faster.