Stimulus or electronic waste check? Know what to look for in order not to throw your money away.
Angela Lang / CNET
The IRS has started sending second stimulus checks by mail. If you qualify for another direct payment — and you can calculate your second stimulus check total here – then there three ways to welcome you. If you haven’t already direct deposit configured with the IRS, it means that you are receiving a check or EIP Card in the mail.
even though second stimulus check are coming faster this time, there’s also a problem: the January 15th deadline for receiving your check. If you do not receive your payment by mail by then, you will have to file a claim during the tax season to receive your money. This is called Recovery discount credit, and this can slow down your schedule to get your next check. There is something else to know as well. It may not be clear whether the envelope with your money contains a check (the IRS tweeted this during the first round). This is to discourage fraud and theft.
Fortunately, the U.S. Postal Service has a free app that can help you track where second stimulus check or EIP card is and when exactly it can arrive. That way, you’ll know exactly what to look for and when to arrive, so you don’t accidentally throw it in the trash thinking it’s electronic waste.
What is informed delivery and can you cancel?
Informed delivery is a free USPS mail tracking service that automatically scans your letters and can alert you with an image every time a letter with your name is about to be delivered – including your second stimulus payment.
Be aware that this will show you all your documents scanned by the post office, not just your stimulus payment. Yes, you can cancel at any time.
See this:
Second stimulus checks: everything you need to know
3:22
How to see your personal mailbag
It may take three business days to activate your account after setting up. Once in the air, you will receive an email every morning, Monday to Saturday, if the mail is scheduled to arrive, notifying you of the mail that will be delivered, along with a grayscale image of the front of the letter. You can also use the free informed delivery app for Android and iPhone to be notified.
Am I definitely receiving my stimulus check in the mail?
If you have not yet set up direct deposit with the IRS, this is the most likely outcome, as long as you eligible to receive a second stimulus check. It is not clear at this point whether the IRS will open its online tracking tool for the new direct deposit registration. Since January 1, the tool has not yet been activated for track your payment schedule for your second check.
Is your stimulus check there? You may already know before taking a look.
Sarah Tew / CNET
Informed delivery: quickly check if you can sign up
When the USPS passes correspondence through its automatic sorting equipment, it creates a digital image of the front of all letter-sized correspondences, and this includes its stimulus check. The informed delivery program uses this digitally captured information to notify you when each shipment is on its way.
The service is available for many home and personal mailbox addresses, but not for businesses. It will also not work for some buildings with multiple units where the Post Office has not yet identified each unit.
Here’s how to check if it’s available in your area:
1 Go to the postal service’s informed delivery page and tap the Sign up for free button.
two Enter your mailing address and tap Continue.
If the service is available, you can set up an account.
Don’t throw away perfectly good money.
Angela Lang / CNET
Configure the informed delivery service
Setting up your account is simple.
1 On the postal service informed delivery page, tap Sign up for free.
two After entering your mailing address and confirming that it will work with the service, you will need to accept the terms and conditions and touch Continue.
3 – On the next page, choose your username, password and security questions. Then enter your contact information and tap Continue.
4 On the next page, you’ll need to verify your identity. Touch Verify your identity online if you want to receive a verification code on your phone or tap Request the invitation code by mail if you want the postal service to send you a code. If neither method works, you may also have the option of visiting a post office to verify your identity in person.
For more details on stimulus verification, see how to calculate an estimate of your total, what we know about a third stimulus check and how some of your rights changed for the better with a second stimulus check.