Didn’t receive that stimulus check yet? Blame the IRS' technical glitches.

Millions will have to wait for their $1,200.
Didn’t receive that stimulus check yet? Blame the IRS' technical glitches.

Still waiting on that stimulus check? If so, you could be a victim of the numerous glitches currently plaguing the IRS, according to a new report from the The Washington Post.

Tens of millions of people who use tax preparation services like H&R Block, TurboTax and Jackson Hewitt to file with the IRS each year have yet to receive their stimulus check. The reason? Well, it all has to do with how these companies get paid for their services.

When filing your tax returns, these preparers set up a temporary bank account with the IRS. So, the IRS actually sends H&R Block or TurboTax your tax refund first. These companies then deduct their fees and send you the rest. So if the IRS doesn't have a consumer's banking information on file, the government has nowhere to send their direct deposit.

People have also reportedly complained about getting the message “Payment Status Not Available" when checking the website meant to let them know when their stimulus checks are arriving.

One of the reasons you might receive this message has to do with the status of your 2019 tax return. If you've filed it already, but the IRS has yet to process it, you'll be met with that frustrating message.

There have also been reports of a separate website glitch for people trying to apply for the stimulus who either owe nothing in taxes, or did not file in 2018 or 2019, according to The Washington Post.

Furthermore, if you try to access the IRS’ website multiple times, people are finding they get locked out for “too many attempts.” These users are also discovering that the IRS is preventing users from changing their bank account information as a fraud prevention measure.

Even Americans who've already received their stimulus money aren’t immune from glitches. Some claim they received the wrong amount or didn’t receive the additional $500 for each of their dependent children under the age of 17.

As The Washington Post notes, the IRS is aware of these issues and is currently working on a fix.

Many of those having direct deposit-related issues will likely need to wait for their physical check to come in the mail. The IRS claims all of these website issues will be addressed, allowing people to check the status of their claims and apply for the stimulus money if they’re a non-filer. There will also be an opportunity for those who received an incorrect amount to report it to the IRS.

Twenty-two million people have now filed for unemployment in the U.S. So it’s bad enough that the $1,200 stimulus check is already well below what other countries are providing their citizens during this pandemic. But it’s even worse that tens of millions of people still have not received it.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
Verizon outage map: How to check your area
Hands hold a mobile phone

Winter storm road conditions: How to check your area online
A bunch of parked cars covered in snow

AI bubble watch: Spooked market sparks $1 trillion Friday tech sell-off
Stock market

Is U.S. TikTok censoring its users?
A collage shows a smarphone with the TikTok logo on its screen, a Palestinian flag, and a screenshot of a TikTok DM with the word 'Epstein' not delivered.


More in Tech
How to watch Chelsea vs. Port Vale online for free
Alejandro Garnacho of Chelsea reacts

How to watch 'Wuthering Heights' at home: Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi's controversial romance now streaming
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi embracing in still from "Wuthering Heights"

How to watch New York Islanders vs. Philadelphia Flyers online for free
Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders warms up

How to watch Mexico vs. Belgium online for free
Israel Reyes of Mexico reacts

How to watch Brazil vs. Croatia online for free
Vinicius Junior #10 of Brazil leaves

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.


NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!