Are paper stimulus checks being mailed out
According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), paper stimulus checks are no longer being mailed out. The IRS has transitioned to direct deposit and prepaid debit cards as the primary methods for distributing stimulus payments.
In March 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law, which provided for a third round of stimulus payments, also known as Economic Impact Payments (EIPs). The IRS began issuing these payments in mid-March 2021.
For the third round of stimulus payments, the IRS used the following methods to distribute the funds:
- Direct Deposit: The IRS deposited the stimulus payment directly into the bank account associated with the taxpayer's tax return.
- Prepaid Debit Cards: The IRS issued prepaid debit cards, known as Economic Impact Payment (EIP) cards, to taxpayers who did not have a direct deposit on file with the IRS.
Paper checks were not used for the third round of stimulus payments. If you received a paper check for a previous stimulus payment, you may have received a prepaid debit card for the third round of payments.
If you have not received your stimulus payment and believe you are eligible, you can use the IRS's Get My Payment tool to check the status of your payment.