Some H&R Block customers say stimulus money was deposited into account they don't recognize
While the IRS is sending out the second round of stimulus payments, some are reporting problems with the money being deposited into a bank account they don't recognize.
The problem is discovered when you go to Get My Payment on the IRS's website to track the status of your stimulus money.
"The IRS is depositing money in wrong accounts that were not used for the 1st check. I'm not sure what the payment #2 account number is," one person who experienced the problem said.
And he's not alone.
Troubleshooter Diane Wilson is hearing from frustrated viewers with the same problem.
They don't recognize the account the second stimulus money went to. The majority of viewers say they used H&R Block to file their 2019 taxes.
H&R Block posted about the issue on their Facebook page on Monday.
"The IRS Get My Payment website may display an account number you don't recognize. If you took a Refund Transfer, it may be reflecting that account number. Check your 2019 return to confirm. But don't worry - we have sent these payments on to the method you chose for Refund Transfer: direct deposit, check or Emerald Card. The money should be there by the end of the day," the statement from H&R Block said.
However, the Troubleshooter continues to hear from many H&R Block customers who say they did not get their stimulus money on Monday.
One viewer wrote: "The get my payment shows it's going to my Emerald card and should've been on there as of yesterday yet my account is still empty."
Another asked: "What do you do when they send the money to the wrong bank account? The first stimulus they sent to my correct account and I have not made any changes. When I checked the website it had it scheduled for deposit today but to an account that I never had. I don't know how it could have been mixed up."
H&R Block sent this statement to ABC11:
H&R Block understands stimulus checks are vitally important for millions of Americans. The IRS determines where second stimulus payments were sent, and in some cases, money was sent to a different account than the first stimulus payment last spring. We immediately deposited millions of stimulus payments to customers' bank accounts and onto our Emerald Prepaid Mastercard yesterday, and all direct deposits are being processed. If the IRS Get My Payment website displays an account number a customer doesn't recognize, H&R Block customer service agents are ready to help with additional information at 800-HRBLOCK and @HRBlockAnswers on Twitter.
The IRS released the following statement Tuesday evening:
"Because of the speed at which the law required the IRS to issue the second round of Economic Impact Payments, some payments may have been sent to an account that may be closed or, is or no longer active, or unfamiliar. By law, the financial institution must return the payment to the IRS; they cannot hold and issue the payment to an individual when the account is no longer active. If Get My Payment shows "Payment Status #2 - Not Available" you will not receive a second EIP.
The IRS advises people that if they don't receive their Economic Impact Payment, they should file their 2020 tax return electronically and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their tax return to get their payment and any refund as quickly as possible."
On the topic on why it cannot issue a second payment to a specific person, the IRS said:
"The IRS is working hard to deliver the second Economic Impact Payment quickly, as required by law, while still preparing for the upcoming 2021 tax filing season. Due to the compressed timeline, the IRS is unable to reissue and mail checks and instead encourages people to file their 2020 tax return electronically to claim and receive the Recovery Rebate Credit quickly as possible."
