How can I find out about my stimulas check?

Stimulus Payment Timing

Updated July 18, 2008

If You HavenвЂ™t Yet Filed
For those filing solely to claim the payment
If you normally donвЂ™t file a federal tax return but must file one this year solely to claim your economic stimulus payment, you should file by Oct. 15, 2008, to ensure that you receive the payment this year. It will generally take a minimum of eight weeks after you file your return to get your stimulus payment.

For extension filers
If you filed Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, you must file your tax return by Oct. 15, 2008. Processing times for tax returns and stimulus payments vary.

If youвЂ™re getting a regular income tax refund, the IRS will send you that refund first. Your separate stimulus payment should follow one to two weeks after you receive your refund. If youвЂ™re not expecting a regular tax refund, it will generally take a minimum of eight weeks after you file your return to get your stimulus payment.

If You Filed After April 15
If you filed a tax return after April 15 to claim your stimulus payment, it will generally take up to eight weeks after you filed to get your stimulus payment.

If You Filed Before April 15

Economic stimulus payments were issued according to the last two-digits of the main filer's Social Security number. For joint filers, the payment was issued based on the person listed first on the return. Payments were made by either direct deposit or paper check. Payments should have been received by close of business on the dates listed below.

DIRECT DEPOSIT

Last two SSN digits:
Payments will be transmitted no later than (and received by the end of the day of):

00 through 20
May 2

21 through 75
May 9

76 through 99
May 16

If filing or preparation fees were deducted from your 2007 refund or if you obtained a refund anticipation loan or other bank product related to your regular tax refund, your stimulus payment will be in the form of a check even though you chose direct deposit for your regular refund.

Paper checks also went out based on Social Security number. Because they were sent through the mail, it took longer for them to be received than direct deposits.

PAPER CHECK

Last two SSN digits: Payments will be mailed no later than (and received a few days after):
00 through 09 May 16
10 through 18 May 23
19 through 25
May 30
26 through 38 June 6
39 through 51 June 13
52 through 63 June 20
64 through 75 June 27
76 through 87 July 4
88 through 99 July 11

People who filed a return on or close to April 15 should have received their payment regardless of the above schedule if at least eight weeks have passed since the return was filed.

For Further Assistance
If you need assistance, please visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center or call the toll-free Rebate Hotline at 1-866-234-2942. A list of all Taxpayer Assistance Centers in your state is available at Contact My Local Office.