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Third stimulus check/payment information

4 min read


4 min read


Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on March 31, 2020.

In mid-March 2021, millions of Americans received a third stimulus payment via direct deposit, with additional rounds of payments following in the weeks after by direct deposit and through the mail as a check or debit card.

How do you get a stimulus check/paymentcheck/payment?

How do I get my stimulus check/payment?

The IRS has shared that a direct deposit is how most people will get their third stimulus payment.  However, if not, people will get their third stimulus payment in the mail as either a check or U.S. Treasury debit card.  

Where’s my stimulus check/payment?

Need to know how to check the status of your stimulus check? The IRS Get My Payment tool is now available for you to check the status of your payment.  

Get My Payment will only reflect a status once the payment has been issued. You cannot make any updates to your bank information.

As you search for answers about your third stimulus payment, H&R Block has tools and live expert help to assist you.

H&R Block Emerald Card stimulus payment information

Emerald Card clients can receive stimulus updates by logging into MyBlock or by calling 1-866-353-1266 and entering the last four digits of their Emerald Card account. MyBlock will only reflect a status once the payment has been issued.   

Payment to your Emerald Card depends on a few factors

The IRS should use the most recent information it has to process your third stimulus payment. For instance, if your 2020 refund has already been processed and was sent to an Emerald Card account, it should go to your same Emerald Card account.

The bank change doesn’t affect your payment, but some may need to activate new cards

Don’t worry – the change in H&R Block’s banking partner should not impact the ability for your stimulus payment to be deposited into your Emerald Card account. 

However, new Emerald Cards have been issued due to the change. Please make sure you have activated your new card (it begins with 5554) to ensure you will be ready to go when the payment comes in. If you need another Emerald Card sent to you, please call 1-866-353-1266.   

Those with new Emerald Cards should be able to access their stimulus payment

Good news – if the IRS sends a stimulus payment to your Emerald Card account and you activated a new Emerald Card on that account, you will be able to access the funds with your new card. 

No fee to deposit your stimulus payment 

There is no fee for the stimulus payment to load on your Emerald Card. For Emerald Card clients receiving stimulus payments, we have waived the fee associated with accessing your money over-the-counter at a bank through March 31, 2021. Please refer to your Cardholder Agreement for the full list of Emerald Card fees.  

Stimulus checks and your refund

Additional stimulus money may be available at a later date. If you didn’t receive the full amount of the third payment you were owed (due to a new baby, lower income, etc.), there are two times when you may receive additional stimulus money.

  • ”Top up” payment later this year – If your third stimulus was based on your 2019 return and the 2020 return you file would qualify you for more money, the IRS will re-determine your eligibility and issue a separate payment for the difference after they process your return. Please note: it may take several weeks for the IRS to issue the payment. At that point, you can check the status using the IRS Get My Payment tool.
  • Recovery Rebate Credit next tax year – If you had a change in circumstances in 2021 that would qualify you to receive additional third stimulus money, you can claim a Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your 2021 taxes (in 2022).  

Read about how the Recovery Rebate Credit works for the first and second stimulus payments. Save any letters received from the IRS about stimulus checks and present them when you work with an H&R Block tax pro to file your 2020 tax return. 

Stimulus questions and answers

Can my third stimulus payment be offset for past due federal taxes or child support?
No, your stimulus payment will not be reduced for these reasons.

Can my third stimulus payment be garnished?
Yes, a portion or all of your stimulus payment may be withheld to pay your debts. There are no rules in the American Rescue Plan Act that prohibit this.

Find stimulus payment information and more

To estimate your stimulus payment, visit our stimulus check calculator and for additional stimulus details and frequently asked questions visit the H&R Block Coronavirus Resource Center.

Looking for stimulus information if you receive social security? Check out our social security/ stimulus check information.

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