Do You Use IRS Website to check Stimulus payment?

[TaxLadyinPA]

I have been using their website to see the amount of last years stimulus each client received. However last night the website stopped working and as of today it still isn't ...

it says: "We are sorry, our Where's my Stimulus Payment Status feature is currently not available. Please try again later."

Is anyone else having this problem?

What is the phone number to call instead of checking online? I remember seeing it but didn't write it down because I was using the website.

Thanks for you responses.

[Nashville]

I Do Use It

...simply because it is more reliable than the information from many clients. If their website is down, that is a significant problem.

I have been suspicious about its accuracy because it appears to ask so many qualifying questions that it seems to be calculating the payment afresh, instead of tracking down the social security number and finding actual payments.

But I don't work for the IRS so I don't know. Surely an organization with as many resources and expertise would do this right. Wouldn't they??

[Gene V]

Had the same message earlier this morning--it was working 1/2 hour later.
Don't know of any phone number

[KBTS]

My software has a link to the site, so I check the amount before the client comes in for their appointment. The site was not working last night and earlier today, but I just checked one and it worked.

[dustoffgirl]

Working Now

Just used it and its up and running

[Mike Mac]

I did all mine right after the website opened and the tax season got busy. It was boring as heck but I wanted to avoid the frustration of it being down due to heavy use later in the season.

[nalawson]

I find sometimes it works and sometimes it seems to freeze up and then I have to resend the info. I have found it to be a good tool, since most of my clients have no idea how much money they got.

[TaxLadyinPA]

Not Working here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just used it and its up and running

So I just tried again at 3:25 pm EST. And it still will not give me answer. I wonder if they are on overload at the website and I am just the unlucky one that keeps getting the *sorry try again later*

*sigh* it is really a hold up to me....

[Harvey Lucas]

Drake Software

has the IRS web link built right into the form where you enter the stimulus check amount received.

It works great!

I simply click on the link, it takes me direct to IRS page, I enter only clients ss#, filing status in 07, and # of exemptions claimed. A few seconds later it gives me the amount of the check they sent to the client.

I simply do this each time I prepare a return as a standard routine.

And yes, the IRS site was down last night for awhile but it was working this morning.

Harvey Lucas

[SueBaby]

has the IRS web link built right into the form where you enter the stimulus check amount received.

It works great!

I simply click on the link, it takes me direct to IRS page, I enter only clients ss#, filing status in 07, and # of exemptions claimed. A few seconds later it gives me the amount of the check they sent to the client.

I simply do this each time I prepare a return as a standard routine.

And yes, the IRS site was down last night for awhile but it was working this morning.

Harvey Lucas

Yes, I have Drake too and it is a great tool; since people don't know what they got back. Can't build my answers on them for it. I do this before they come and still ask anyway and still they don't know. So this website is built in the software and very quick and that is what I really love ---QUICK!

[TaxLadyinPA]

It's Up UP and Away !!!!!!!!!!

Well finally at 6 pm EST..... I got one to go thru so I grabbed about 20 other returns and got them too .... However ... twice it gave me that same *sorry* screen .. but I went right back and did it again and it let me have my answers.

I would say that the IRS site definately was bogged down with everyone wanting to use it at the same time.

and to DRAKE users. ..... Proseries actually tells us how much they *should* have gotten .... but I'm not about to trust it .... yet they have been right every time.. I still will continue to check just to be sure.

Thanks for your responses .. I was worried that it was just my computer losing it's cookies or something ...... { I feel like I've lost my cookies already .... and we've only just begun } [ oh wait ... it is lose our marbles isn't it ] LOL

[JohnH]

We had some lengthy discussions a few weeks ago about whether to accept what the client says about the rebate, whether to charge for the lookup, etc. I've modified my position somewhat based on how easy this is when it's working, as most on this string have confirmed.

I'm just looking it up on everyone, at no charge. Even if they provide me with info, if the info they provide is wrong they will still be upset with me if it bounces back on them. It's easier just to jump to the IRS site and confirm - not much different and usually less time than running the error check which I always run before printing the return. When using multiple monitors it's almost an afterthought to do a quick check on the rebate amount.

[S T]

Checking on 08 Stimulus Rebate

My software has a link, and I also have dual monitors, taking less than 60 seconds to pull it up and then I PDF into my client PDF data for a record. And my software has a reminder, in case I forgot to input the 08 Rebate Info. I also am not charging for this lookup.

So much easier than asking the client. So far I have had only one client that has supplied me with the document that IRS sent them last year.

Sandy

[MAJ]

PDF away..............

I too have been looking up -
I then print the IRS page to a PDF {CutePDF} and save in the clients directory that I scan their documents too. I recently purchased a simple Epson Workforce 600 which is doing a nice job scanning. I'd love to purchase a high end HP M3035 but my practice isn't there {yet}. Simple but effective.

[dtlee]

What is the phone number to call instead of checking online? I remember seeing it but didn't write it down because I was using the website.

Thanks for you responses.

Phone number is

866-234-2942

When it answers, your responses (assuming you want English) are:

1 - 1 - SSN - FS - EX

Where
1 chooses English
1 chooses last year's ESP amount
SSN=The Social Security Number you are looking up
FS=The number of the filing status used last year (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5)
EX=The number of exemptions claimed on last year's return.