[Software] No stimulus check yet? How to track it through the mail from your phone or computer

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No stimulus check yet? How to track it through the mail from your phone or computer

The post office can alert when your IRS stimulus check is about to arrive in the mail. Here's how to set up the free USPS service to see when your check is coming.

 

 

 

If you've given up using the IRS Get My Payment app to track the status of your payment, the US Postal Service has another way for you to see the status of your check. Called Informed Delivery, the free service can send you a picture of your mail as it's processed through the post office. That includes your coronavirus check, too. Signing up for the service also lets you keep tabs on its progress through notifications on your phone or computer.

Informed Delivery doesn't apply just to stimulus checks. The post office scanning tool documents all your mail, which of course includes your money from the government. There are some limitations to the system, but the service does verify that the USPS processed your check and sent it to you. You can cancel anytime.

Keep in mind that the post office can't tell you why you don't have stimulus payment yet and it doesn't replace the IRS portal for tracking your payment, which we like for its ability to give you a ballpark estimate of when your check might be on its way. (If you run into trouble with the tracker, here are 12 possible explanations why). The IRS is down to the last several million of its relief checks, so we can't blame you for starting to wonder when it's your turn.

Read on to learn how to use the USPS tool to see your stimulus check in the mail and brush up on the latest about the second stimulus check that's been proposed.

 

 

 

How to see your own personal mailbag 

It can take three business days to activate your account after you set it up. Once it's live, you will receive an email each morning Monday through Saturday if mail is scheduled to arrive, notifying you of mail that will be delivered, along with a grayscale image of the front of the letter. You can also use the free Android and iPhone Informed Delivery app to be notified.

 

Am I definitely getting my stimulus check in the mail?

At this point, you're more likely to receive your money in the mail than in your bank account. That's because the IRS deadline to provide your direct deposit information passed on May 13. 

The federal revenue agency said its focus is now on sending payments in the mail through the post office -- either as a paper check or as a prepaid debit card called the economic impact payment, or EIP, card. Read on to track your payment envelope in the mail.

 

Informed Delivery: Quickly check that you're eligible

When the USPS runs mail through its automated mail sorting equipment, it creates a digital image of the front of all letter-size mail, and that includes your stimulus check. The Informed Delivery program uses this digitally captured information to notify you when each piece of mail is on the way. 

The service is available to many residential and personal P.O. box addresses but not businesses. It also won't work for some multiunit buildings where the Postal Service hasn't yet identified each unit.

Here's how to check whether it's available in your area:

1. Head to the Postal Service's Informed Delivery page and tap the Sign Up for Free button.

2. Enter your mailing address, and tap Continue. 

If the service is available, you can continue to set up an account.

 

 

 

Set up the Informed Delivery service

Setting up your account is straightforward. 

1. On the Postal Service's Informed Delivery page, tap Sign Up for Free.

2. After you enter your mailing address and confirm it'll work with the service, you'll need to accept the terms and conditions and tap 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. Tap Verify identity online if you want to receive a verification code on your phone or tap Request invitation code by mail if you want the Postal Service to mail a code to you. If neither method works for you, may also be given the option to visit a post office to verify your identity in person.