By now, millions of Americans have received their new $600 stimulus.
But thousands of frustrated taxpayers, looking forward to that money, are discovering their money went into a bank account that isn't theirs.
If you are among the 22% of people who received last year's stimulus check by mail, you figure it will take a few weeks.
But many people expecting a direct deposit, like Alysha Bradshaw, are finding something else happening.
Money deposited into mystery bank account
"It says it was sent to my bank on the Jan. 4, but the last 4 digits are not my bank account," Bradshaw said.
Instead, her money was sent a thousand miles away.
"If I Google the routing number, it's a bank in North Dakota," she said.
Niecie Boyd had last year's stimulus correctly deposited into her account, but not this time.
"The first payment was sent back in April to the correct last 4 digits of my account," Boyd told us. "The second payment went out January 4th, but then last 4 digits I did not recognize, it wasn't any of my accounts."
It turns out many people like her complaining on social media this week filed their taxes through H&R Block or TurboTax.
Both tax preparers now say the IRS sent some stimulus checks to their company accounts, instead of to their customers' accounts, because as far as the IRS is concerned, those are the accounts that received last year's income tax refund.
The good news is that if you are in this situation, you should not have to wait three or four weeks for the mailman to bring you a check.
The tax preparation firms say they are aware of what happened and are now moving money into customer accounts, or getting it to them in some other way.
H&R Block has issued a statement saying "Don't worry. We are sending the money by Direct Deposit, check, or Emerald Card."
And Intuit, owner of TurboTax, says "for those but who don't receive the payment for any reason, it can be claimed by filing a tax return in 2021."
Some customers of other online tax preparers are also reporting delays in getting their money as well.
The promise that the checks will come soon doesn't soothe taxpayers like Kyle Gulleman, who needs that $600.
"It's very frustrating," he said. "We had to get some help to have our furnace replaced, and we are relying on that to get back to the whole."
It is unlikely that can call the IRS to correct this, as taxpayers report phone messages saying their lines are overwhelmed.
What you can do
So what can you do if your stimulus is missing, or went to the wrong account?
- Keep checking www.irs.gov for status updates on your check.
- Contact TurboTax, H&R Block, or your other preparer directly
- Claim the $600 on your tax form this April.
Shortly after our interview, Niecie Boyd reported that her $600 showed up in her account.
Hopefully, you will see your money in the coming days, so you don't waste your money.
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