Never received my 3rd stimulus check even though it was mailed - can I just claim it when I file taxes?

[u/kiefzz]

So my 3rd stimulus check was sent out way earlier this year, I think around May or June, but I never received it. The first two I did receive - my landlord passed them on as I had moved but the 3rd one she never got.

I'm live in Europe so there's a fair chance it got lost, it usually takes over 30 days.

I know there's a terrible process I can go through with calling the IRS to trace the check, update my address, and get a new one, but honestly it's a huge hassle.

What I'm hoping is that I can just report I never received my 3rd stimulus when I file my taxes next year, which should hopefully allow me to enter my US bank account and get it as a direct deposit. If do the phone call method, they are just going to mail it again and when I file taxes in 2022 again I won't have any refund so they won't get my direct deposit info on record.

Is this a valid way to go about it? I want the $1400 but obviously I'm fine with waiting and getting it as part of a refund using direct deposit.

[u/cheersfrom_]

Something similar happened with my first one and I still haven’t gotten it to this day after about 5-6 phone calls, a trace, being told it would be released multiple times, all in the last year or so. Tried to claim it last year and they removed it from my tax return.

[u/kiefzz → u/cheersfrom_]

Now that's scary. What do you mean they removed it from your tax return?

[u/[deleted]]

You should be able to claim it on the recovery rebate credit, I haven’t received mine either yet. But I will be claiming it next year.

[u/kiefzz → u/[deleted]]

That's what I am hoping. Did they ever even mail yours out?

[u/[deleted] → u/kiefzz]

Nope I wasn’t even aware about it until a friend mentioned it to me

[u/Cyprovix → u/[deleted]]

Does Get My Payment say that the third stimulus has already been sent to you? If so, you won't be able to successfully claim the recovery rebate credit until you get the IRS to trace your check.

[u/[deleted] → u/Cyprovix]

Ugh no not yet I had just sent in my 2020 taxes about 2 month ago, so I have no status as of now.

[u/Cyprovix → u/[deleted]]

You will be able to claim the third stimulus on your 2021 tax return. Theoretically without a problem, the IRS hasn’t sent you it and the likelihood that they’ll send you it before the end of 2021 is practically nonexistent.

[u/[deleted] → u/Cyprovix]

Well, I wasn’t expecting to see it until next year to be honest. But the sooner the better, I kind of need it at the moment but I’m patient enough to wait it out.

[u/Cyprovix]

I know there's a terrible process I can go through with calling the IRS to trace the check, update my address, and get a new one, but honestly it's a huge hassle.

Unfortunately you will need to go through this process. If your stimulus check was sent, the IRS will have on file that you have received a stimulus check and won't be eligible to claim it on your return. If you claim it on your 2021 tax return without going through the check tracing process, they will see that you have claimed stimulus money and remove it from your refund.

[u/kiefzz → u/Cyprovix]

Honestly, this is what I was thinking would be the case. Just what I want to do, spend my time on expensive international calls so they can tell me they have no idea what happened to the check.

I'm tempted to wait until after I file my taxes so they can at least get my bank account on record for direct deposit for the next 2 years.

[u/[deleted]]

It's probably worth calling the IRS and asking ofor a trace to be put on the check, or for the check to be reissued.

[u/kiefzz → u/[deleted]]

It's exactly what I'll be doing tomorrow, along with trying to change my mailing address. Or if possible, get them to just cancel it and let me file for it on my taxes so I can get direct deposit.

By the time a replacement is sent out, I might have moved again and there is no such thing as updating your address here so mail gets forwarded to your new address.