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Are you a United States citizen living abroad? For millions of expatriates, help from home is on the way in the form of COVID-19 economic impact payments. Unfortunately, scammers also are on the way, and they’re eager to pluck the payment from your pocket.

Depending on your income, U.S. expatriates can get up to $1,200 each, or up to $2,400 for couples, plus $500 for each qualifying child, just as you would if living stateside. And, most people don’t need to do anything to get their payments. The IRS will deposit your payment directly to your U.S. bank account (the IRS can’t direct deposit money to a foreign account), or mail your payment using information from your 2018 or 2019 tax return or from your Social Security retirement or other federal benefits program.

If you haven’t filed a federal tax return for 2018 or 2019 and don’t get any federal benefits, you may have to give the IRS sensitive information, including your Social Security number and bank account number (if you have one), to get your payment.

Scammers will try to take advantage of this to try to steal your money, your personal information, or both. So, to help avoid scammers, use only irs.gov/coronavirus and the tools there to submit sensitive information to the IRS. Use the IRS’s guide to figure out which IRS tool to use. And, visit the IRS’s Economic Impact Payment Center for answers to common questions. Consider talking with a tax professional if your tax filing situation is complex.

With economic impact money flowing in, and many people confused about the distribution process, this is a time to stay on high alert for scammers. Here are some things that ONLY scammers will do:

  • Call, email, or text you to ask for, or “verify,” your personal or financial information. The IRS won’t contact you by phone, email, text, or social media about your payment.
  • Ask you to pay a transfer or other fee to get your stimulus money. There are no fees.
  • Send you a very real-looking check for more than you’re expecting, then tell you to deposit it, take your proper payment, and return the “overpayment” by sending cash, gift cards, or money transfers. A bank may be fooled and cash the check, but when it turns out to be fraudulent – which it will – you will owe the bank any money that you withdrew.

Learn more about avoiding economic impact payment scams here. And, if you spot a scam, please tell us about it at ftc.gov/complaint.

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

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Dachsel
May 30, 2020

In reply to by Halfie

I'm in Au and also on Get My Payment they advised that it is in the mail being posted on 01May. Today is the end of the month and still not received. Does anyone know how long it takes for USA - somewhere to Qld?
max d
April 29, 2020

In reply to by TalaPup

i'm living in italy and get ssid. i'm still waiting for my check, which by everything i've read i will receive. the latest i read was that ssi/ssid and others receiving gov financial support will get their payment BY april 29, today. i haven't received anything and i suppose a few days leeway should always be considered, but i'm getting a bit worried myself.
PammW
May 09, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

Nope. No sign of the SSDI checks in Australia and the May ones came in on the third. They lie.
Micah321
May 05, 2020

In reply to by TalaPup

I am a U.S citizen living in the UK and receive monthly ss benefits--I have not yet received the stimulus payment, but the Irs frequently asked questions page states that if you are a non filer, you will be unable to use the get my payment tool. However the money will be sent to the same account as receives the ss deposit, hope this helps,
Mike
May 11, 2020

In reply to by TalaPup

Do social security recipients who are living abroad but don't file taxes eligible for a stimulus check?
Becca
May 31, 2020

In reply to by TalaPup

I fou d that I received that same message until my payment was scheduled to be mailed or deposited. They are scheduling payments through September.
scjc
April 27, 2020
My spouse and I are on a temporary skilled labor work visa in Australia. We too electronically filed over a month ago with H&R Block Australia that specializes in US Expat Returns. They are offering no help, but for us to be patient. We have a US bank and would like to give direct deposit info but with no luck. The address is typed in exactly as appears on the efiled return. Tried both 2018 and 2019 address. IRS portal states the info does not match our records. Should be a simple thing to just add direct deposit info. Visa holders overseas should be a priority because many have lost income and are not eligible for gov't help in the Country they are working in (although they were invited here to work) and not eligible for help in the US. They are falling between the cracks. This should be fixed.
jz
April 28, 2020
I am the US citizens living in HK now, I am wondering how can i get my payment? if my IRS record doesn't have my US bank account. Who shall i contact with regarding such detail? Will they mail the real check to my HK home address?
Cari6
April 28, 2020
I am a US citizen and I reside in South Africa, i have recently started working and paying tax here but I do not have a US tax number or american Bank account, how do I apply or receive the economic impact payment?
ozgur
April 28, 2020
I'm a US citizen living in Turkey. I don't file a tax return because my income is lower than the limit. As I understood I am eligible for the payment but the problem is I don't currently have a U.S. cell number. If it's possible for citizens living abroad to receive the payment why is it required to have a U.S. based cell number? Is there a solution to it?
Moostaff
October 12, 2020

In reply to by ozgur

You don't need a USA cell number,I don't have one either and got my stimulus in Turkey,Now my problem is I can't find a place that will cash it!
IREM
March 17, 2021

In reply to by Moostaff

Have you been able to cash the check? Because now I have the same problem
CarolU
April 28, 2020
My parents are retired U.S citizens living abroad to be specific in Ecuador where the Covid situation is terrible . They don’t have a U.S bank account, will they get their stimulus check on the foreign bank they receive their S.S check since the mail service in that country is bad they never receive any S.S mail. Can they contact a number to get more information? Thanks for answering.
FTC Staff
April 29, 2020

In reply to by CarolU

The Social Security Administration has a chart for people who get Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability benefits or SSI that shows when and how they will get a payment. There's more information for beneficiaries at www.ssa.gov.

PatriDon't use…
May 18, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

I receive my social security check at my local bank in Costa Rica. Everything I have read says that the stimulus checks will be deposited based on information on our 1099 form. I'm assuming, if that is the case, that the IRS would have access to the account number and routing information for the Bank of New York which is the intermediary Bank is that processes Social Security payments for recipients living abroad. However, as of today May 18th, I have not received my check nor has anybody that I know under the same circumstances received theirs either. I do not file federal income taxes because I am not required to. I can't seem to get any information from the IRS website so how can we find out the status of this payment?
notlurking
May 22, 2020

In reply to by PatriDon't use…

I am in the same situation as you. I am retired in the Dominican Republic and receive my SS retirement payment direct deposit to my local bank. As of today 5/22 no stimulus payment. If I receive my SS retirement monthly payments here in the DR why can't the IRS do the same, it's federal money.
Landrum80
May 24, 2020

In reply to by PatriDon't use…

Hello there, I'm on the same boat. On SSDI and living in Costa Rica. I get my SS direct deposited to my local bank and as of today I haven't received anything. Since the money gets deposited in the US first I'm assuming the IRS would send the payment the same way SS sends it right?
Mike Pat
April 29, 2020
I live in Japan and haven't filled a return in a few years because of low income. I receive a disability compensation payment from the Veterans Administration each month. From what I've been reading it sounds like I don't need to do anything and will automatically receive my payment with my VA compensation. Am I correct in thinking this? Thank you for your time and help.
FTC Staff
April 29, 2020

In reply to by Mike Pat

Yes, you are correct. Recipients of VA benefits will automatically receive automatic Economic Impact Payments.

If you have a qualifying dependent, and didn't file a tax return in 2018 or 2019, you must act before noon on May 5 to register the dependent and get the $500 payment. Read more here.

Lusi
April 29, 2020
I file my income tax with IRS every year. My income is earned overseas, and I never have to pay. Therefore, I have added no bsnk account to my claim. I do have a bank account Stateside. How do I add that account to my claim when I already claimed 2019 taxes?
Mike Moore
April 29, 2020
When I enter info requested by IRS my 2018 Income Tax Return AGI is not recognized by IRS. I have no idea how correct this and feel like without some direction I could sit here and wait for months to receive the payment we are expecting.
MarSal
April 29, 2020
I live in Europe. No U.S. bank account. Unemployed. Paper checks do not exist here. Do I qualify for the economic impact payment?
LNR
April 29, 2020
I have tried the "non-filers"form to receive the payment. The problem I'm encountering is that the form recognizes only ABA (U.S. bank codes) for deposit, but my foreign bank uses only the SWIFT code, for which the IRS form returns an error code. I would appreciate any information about where to go from here.
Tony Calgary
April 29, 2020
I have been trying to get information about my Covid-19 Economic Impact Payment for over a week and I get a n error message that says my information does not match what the IRS has. I am using the same information that is on my Tax Filing documents. I have filed and paid taxes for over 15 years with the same information. There is not active IRS contact number or anywhere to email. The local consulate does not answer either. I have received nothing form the US government for the 30 plus years I have lived abroad and paid taxes. What's up?
Jorod328
April 29, 2020
Hi, I live in Costa Rica , and receive Social Security Disability by direct deposit, here in a Costa Rica Bank, I have two children under 17 who also receive benefits through me, they also receive it by direct deposit— I have been reading to see if I have to file for them , but it says if I receive disability not to fill out the non filer form .. can you explain if I have to fill out forms for my 2 children for them to receive the $500 dollars ? Or since they are already in the system in receiving benefits from my disability, I don’t have to do anything else . ? Thanks
iv
April 30, 2020
I’m in the same boat as many commenters here; US Citizen, living abroad, specifically in the UK. Filing and paying taxes every year, but when I tried to use the tool to see where my payment was, I got either an error message or that my information can’t be found, or it is not matching. However, I am also eligible for the stimulus check by the criteria set out. I will owe the government taxes for the year 2019, on my tax return I have provided a bank account information where my payment will be automatically drafted from in July. I’ve filed with TaxAxt. After filing, I’ve received an email from TaxAct that the IRS has received my 2019 return. This was 2.5 weeks ago. On the other hand, I won’t be eligible for a refund from the government. Would this prevent the IRS directly depositing the payment to my account? I am just trying to come up with answers why the stimulus check hasn’t been deposited yet. I’ve also looked through the FAQ page you suggested for others in the comments section, but I do not find any answers as to why I am getting error messages, and that the information entered do not match my records provided. Nothing seems to apply to my situation in the FAQs. If you have any answers, please let me know! As someone already mentioned here, so many of us working abroad have lost our jobs. We are not eligible for any kind of aid from the foreign government, and hasn’t received any help from our government as of yet. We are in a pickle too.
mstskar
May 01, 2020
I am a US citizen living in Europe and receive my retirement pension into a European bank account, do I need a US bank account to receive the stimulus check?
TryingToHelpDa…
May 01, 2020
Hi, My father, like many -- if not most people in this thread -- is having trouble with the Get My Payment tool. It doesn't seem to support foreign addresses. He doesn't receive Social Security, because he's a retired professor and gets a state pension. He does, however, pay the IRS income tax every year. When others have asked the same question (about not being able to enter their foreign address), you keep responding: "The IRS has questions and answers at Get My Payment Frequently Asked Questions. There are a couple questions at the bottom of the page about Error Messages and Change of Address. Perhaps those will help." NO, those don't help. They have NO support for ex-pats. What can he do??? (He can't contact the IRS, because they're not offering support right now outside of FAQs.) Please advise. Thank you. Tha
ChuckD7
May 02, 2020
It is 2 May and I have not received a Stimulus Check. I am a DOD Retiree, disabled Vet and also SSDI recipient living in Germany. I file taxes every year, have an American Direct deposit Bank account and I have not received a check and the IRS my payment page has no information for me. What can I do?
micah321!
May 31, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

The SSA website states 29th April as my stimulus date payment, now the 31st May and still nothing! Is it just a case of being patient?
ChuckD7
May 05, 2020

In reply to by ChuckD7

How will Disabled compensable Veterans receive Stimulus payments?
FTC Staff
May 21, 2020

In reply to by ChuckD7

The IRS said that Veterans who get Compensation and Pension (C&P) benefit payments should get their automatic payments of $1,200 by mid-May. People will generally get the automatic $1,200 payments by direct deposit, Direct Express debit card or by paper check, just as they would normally get their benefits.

Maekailb
May 02, 2020
Hi, I’m an overseas US citizen living in Dubai. I recently filed my 2019 tax return with a SSN. I do not have a domestic US bank account or address in the US as I have lived the entirety of my life abroad. How can I provide my Dubai bank details to the IRS? Thanks and regards, Maekail
crazbyc
May 02, 2020
I get Ssdi and live abroad currently I have a US bank account that I receive direct deposit of my benefits every month. I haven’t received the stimulus payment as of 5/1/20 what do I do ?
lanok
May 02, 2020
I live abroad. Trying to access status /get my payment doesn’t allow a foreign address to be inputted
Seventys
May 02, 2020
May first, STILL locked out of the Get Ly Payment page, every day I enter the right info, every day I get locked out for 24 hours.... Anyone have any news on that end? Frustrating, we are Americans too!!
RetiredMil
May 02, 2020
Retired abroad filed both 2018 & 2019 but owe taxes & pay electronically. But each time i check the status of stimulus check, message is "Unable to provide with the status of your payment". I don't want IRS to mail me a check overseas because i might not receive it. Currently here in US & stock here during this lockdown. Don't know what to do.
Austin
May 02, 2020
Same issue here with the IRS get my payment application saying my address (foreign address) does not match their records. If anybody ever finds a solution, let me know!
SShanghai
May 07, 2020

In reply to by Austin

I checked every day since 4/17 and tried so many combinations. I had the same problem entering our Chinese address. Entering the information as I entered it on my taxes did not work. Entering it as it is printed on a letter from the IRS did not work. I had to do trial and error. 1. Use all caps 2. Abbreviate Road/Rd and Street/St 3. Make a list of all possible punctuations and try them out until you get locked out for 24 hours. Our address as filed and appeared on IRS letters: 123 Main Street #123 The address that was recognized by the application: 123 MAIN ST, #123 The status says it was scheduled to be mailed on May 1st to the address on file. I hope it actually gets here without any issues. Good luck!
RFrance
May 08, 2020

In reply to by SShanghai

Hi SShanghai, Thank you so much for your help, I've been trying to log in for a whole month and your advice of how to format the date worked! Please spread the news to others!
Spain_filer
May 10, 2020

In reply to by SShanghai

I had the same problem. Thanks SShanghai! Your suggestion with the comma worked! For those filers in Spain, I figured out the solution. I entered my ENTIRE street name as is written (no abbreviations). However, I live in Apartment 3-2 I had to write it as follows: Whole street name, #32 The comma (,) after the street name appears to be important. I'm not sure why the dash was not included in the apartment number. I always place it on my forms. Perhaps their system does not permit it? I also tried many many times with various combinations. I had never tried the comma until today. My check was also mailed out on May 1st, based on what the system says. If you have not been able to correct your bank information, my guess is that it is probably already being sent out to your last known address. Good luck!
Jason
May 12, 2020

In reply to by SShanghai

Thanks for this information, following your guide I was finally able to log in and check my status. Thanks!
Javier S
May 12, 2020

In reply to by Jason

I did the same thing too and i was able to get in but the only msg i get is that my check will me mailed on may 15, i will never get it in South America if they mail it. It doesnt give me an option to check or add anything
walkabout
May 02, 2020
I am in Australia and get a regular US social security check in retirement that was set up through your office in the Philippines. It is done as a direct deposit via Citibank Europe Federal Reserve Bank into my bank here.(there is no way to open a US bank account from overseas and this is what is done with most of us out here) My form SSA 1099 was updated July of 2019. I got my monthly check as per normal 2 days ago, but not the $1,200. covid impact payment yet. When should I realistically expect my check? Is there anything I now need to do?
PammW
May 11, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

According to that chart, I should have had my stimulus money deposited in my Australian checking account almost two weeks ago. It's not there. I've even checked my American bank account where it was deposited til the end of 2009 when I moved the SSDI to my Australian bank.
Micah321
June 06, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

Social security chart on their website shows payment date for my situation, I. e ss recipient, non filer, as 29th April, which has long passed and still no stimulus payment!
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