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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.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
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  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

retiree overseas
May 10, 2020
I receive Social security retirement via direct deposit and live abroad. How and when will I receive the payment? Get My Payment doesn't provide any update.
Jamrob
May 10, 2020
I am US Citizen living abroad, and receive Social Security via direct deposit to my account in this country. Will my Covid19 stimulus check payment be sent the same way? Thank you
Ex-pat in Canada
May 10, 2020
Based on the comments I've read there are a lot of challenges entering the information to see if you have a payment. I was able to get in after many attempts. Here are my tips.... For your Social Security Number : Enter just the 9 digits of you SSN (No Dashes) Date of Birth: MM/DD/YYYY Address: Apt #-Street number Then a space and your street name (ALL IN CAPS) Postal Code: Place a dash after the first 3 parts of your postal code, then enter the remaining 3 eg...L3R-9Z7
bighairymonster
May 11, 2020
My dad is on social security retirement. He lives I. Ecuadore. He has it filed 2018 or 19 taxes. Will he receive stimulus? If so, when?
katrinakiritharan
May 11, 2020
Hi, I entered my address here in Vietnam into my tax form when I filed in February. This was a terrible idea because according to the status check with the IRS my settlement check was mailed on April 23rd to my address. I have not received it. Was it mailed priority? Standard? How can I get a tracking number?
CGriswald309B
May 26, 2020

In reply to by katrinakiritharan

There is no tracking number but hopefully the Vietnamese postal service will send it to the US embassy. I read on a blog that is what they did in Cambodia and they did the same here in Belarus. My check was mailed on May 1st and arrived in Minsk about 2 weeks later. Then the US embassy sent me a letter (in Russian) telling me to come in and pick up my reimbursement check.
americaninsout…
May 11, 2020
Hello, I finally was able to login to the "get my payment" website (thanks to the helpful address advice from another commenter) and discovered that they sent the check to my address, which is in South Africa. However, US mail to South Africa has been suspended since early April due to coronavirus, with no signs to be resumed anytime soon. And even at the best of times, mail in South Africa is unreliable. What happens if I never get the check?
rst
May 12, 2020

In reply to by americaninsout…

I am in a similar position. They mailed it to India. Also when they mail to foreign address is through some kind of registered mail which can be tracked. This is really silly because filed my 2019 taxes with bank details and they never took it from there. Please advise what to do in case we never get it.
Gaucho
May 12, 2020
To add to my previous comment/question, which has received no response, since the IRS does not recognize foreign bank accounts, sending a physical check is the next option. Right? How will those checks be delivered with grounded planes and postal deliveries suspended to and from many countries due to covid 19? Do they have enough trained pigeons to get to us all?
stenny
May 12, 2020
I'm in Philippines and on ssdi. and don't file taxes, as my yearly income is under 10k. I have a US bank checking account for my monthly direct deposit. irs portal for the last three weeks accepts my info but has no info.. anybody else in the same boat? or am I totally alone on this?
RHigh
May 12, 2020
I live abroad and received my check in the mail. Where can I cash it when I am in a foreign country?
ChuckD7
May 14, 2020

In reply to by RHigh

It looks like FTC has stop answering our questions. Were on our own everybody.
yfiallos
May 12, 2020
What is I receive direct deposit from SSA on a foreign account will the IRS use that information? I don't have an account in the US.
Singer0526
May 12, 2020
How do you cash the stimulus check if you live overseas and don’t have a US bank account?
User
May 12, 2020
My relative is a US citizen and a student living abroad. (not earning yet nor filed any tax returns till now). Is he qualified to get the stimulus payment? If yes, the "Non-Filers" form accepts Foreign address, but not providing ability to provide foreign phone number. (He does not have a US phone number). How do we get past to file the stimulus request. thanks in advance
Javier S
May 12, 2020
I also live abroad and I was able to get in after several attempts but now that i am able to get in, it doesn't give me the option to add a direct deposit or anything. The only thing it says is that “my check will be mailed to the address the have on file for me on may 15” I know for a fact if you mail that check I will never ever get it! I live in South America and that will be a chaos if you mail it. I wonder why it doesn't give me the option to add my direct deposit, also i filed my taxes 18-19 with direct deposit with a Us bank acct and still I was not given the stimulus check through it. Please I need some guidance. I already went through all the “frequently asked question” but yet none of those help me at all! Please advice what can I do to get the check. Should I claim it lost? Stole? Because for a fact I will never get the check in South America
amy
May 13, 2020
What will happen to the stimulus checks that are mailed to countries that are not accepting mail at this time?
Jen
May 26, 2020

In reply to by amy

I have this question too. The USPS has suspended service to MANY countries.
MLW
May 13, 2020
I live overseas and receive SS retirement via direct deposit to my local bank. IRS doesn't direct deposit to non-American banks and will send a paper stimulus check, right? The Social Security guideline says I should have already received it by the end of April. As of today, 13 May, I haven't received anything. How can I learn if it's even been mailed yet? And when to expect receiving it? I don't file taxes because I'm in (very) low income bracket. Thanks if anybody can help me out.
Henry
May 21, 2020
I’m a US disabled expat living abroad with direct deposit on my SSD I’ve not gotten a stimulus check yet How can I inquire and receive it ? Thanks so much. Henry
Angela
May 13, 2020
I am not a Us citizen and I do not live in USA but I have 2 kids aged 8 and 5 y. o,. Are my kids eligible for covid help from Us government? If so, what is the procedure to receive government help for my kids?
Wynn White
May 13, 2020
I'm an American citizen living in Japan. I receive social security benefits deposited directly into my bank here in Japan. I have not yet received my Economic Impact Payment and am wondering what I need to do to make this happen.
lmh123
May 14, 2020
How to apply for COVID-19 Economic Impact Payment of Korean parents who have a US Citizenship Children and not required to file to IRS living outside the U.S?
hleaure
May 14, 2020
I am a direct deposit US bank ssdi recipient living in Thailand. why have I not received my cares payment as of today May 14th?
Laura1228
May 14, 2020
Good morning everyone, I am a Tennessee girl living in London with my handsome fiancé. I just finished my degree and am working part-time Luckily, I’m sight impaired and receive SSDI- after using the link consistently posted I found this helpful information from the chart on the SSA website; “You should receive your $1,200 payment in the same way you receive your monthly SSI payment: Direct Deposit and Direct Express by May 13; Paper checks will begin May 15.” Hoping everyone gets their checks soon!
PammW
May 15, 2020

In reply to by Laura1228

Laura, nope. My SSDI was in May 3rd, no stimulus. I'll see what happens on June 3rd, but I'm really getting upset with them all over this.
Laura1228
May 21, 2020

In reply to by Laura1228

.... Still waiting- the 13th was a week ago which was the above listed date according to the chart. Anyone else still waiting?
PammW
May 23, 2020

In reply to by Laura1228

Yep, waiting and waiting. These FTC people just seem to be ignoring posts that tell them that chart is wrong too! I know they're reading, they've responded to other things. This is getting more and more worrisome, I don't need this stress on top of everything else :(
Laura1228
May 28, 2020

In reply to by Laura1228

I woke up this morning to find that my economic stimulus payment had been deposited! Sooo thankful for the extra funds right now- wishing everyone the same luck today!
Muddled
May 14, 2020
I live in Ireland and the banks will not accept the stimulus check as it says "US Treasury" without any bank details to clear.
James
May 14, 2020

In reply to by Muddled

I also live in Ireland. On Social Security Benefit. Have received payment of that via direct deposit in my Irish bank account. Haven't received the stimulus check or direct deposit yet. Discouraging to hear that US Treasury check not accepted into the bank. Perhaps contacting US Embassy in Dublin. To see if they can contact Irish banks to accept these checks?
Maria
June 17, 2020

In reply to by Muddled

Hi Muddled, Also live in Ireland. Im expecting stimulus check and wondering if you were able to find a solution to Irish banks not accepting US Treasury checks?
Marcusnegrito9…
May 14, 2020
My parents they both are US citizens seniors, they are retired and received Social Security benefits and they lived outside the United States. Will they also received a Stimulus Check from the government ? And if they do how will they received it ?
GG
May 14, 2020
I live abroad but have several US bank accounts from which I pay any taxes I owe. While the government was quick to withdraw my 2020 taxes on April 15th, according to the IRS website they are now mailing me a paper check rather than direct deposit! If my bank let them withdraw, I'm pretty sure they didn't reject a deposit! I tried for weeks to check the status online and always received an error message, when it did work it said that it was already mailed. I have never received a single piece of mail in the 2 years I've lived here in South America. I pay my taxes every year and have just as much of a right to the stimulus payment as any other American citizen. The IRS needs to do one of the following, allow those living abroad to redirect paper checks to a US address, actually use the direct deposit information they are provided for tax purposes, provide a hotline for those in a similar situation to use or offer to apply the stimulus amount to 2020 taxes.
KH31
May 14, 2020
I live in Japan and no bank in this country will accept US checks since a new law passed last year. (Even so called international banks). I have no US bank account. I received the economic impact check and have no way to cash it. What can I do?
injapan
May 25, 2020

In reply to by KH31

Hi, I'm in the same situation. I hope someone will provide a solution to those of us without a US bank account and in a country where the check cannot be deposited or cashed.
Steve in Saitama
June 16, 2020

In reply to by injapan

Me too. Looking at the check on my desk as I write this and wonder if it will simply expire before I find a way to cash or deposit it. I've been in Japan for 25+ years and have no address or bank accounts in the States though I still have a US passport and file US taxes every year. The US Embassy in Tokyo has a notice on their website that they have been fielding lots of questions on this very issue, but that they have no solution at this point in time.
Mary
June 28, 2020

In reply to by Steve in Saitama

Me too - received Stimulus Check and cannot cash it anywhere in UK!
Carmen
June 23, 2020

In reply to by KH31

I’m in the same situation but in Europe I got my check but nowhere can I cash it.
Anabmendieta
May 15, 2020
I'm on ssdi live abroad received 1099 and on get my payment won't let me in page still have received nothing have direct deposit here what do I need to do
Allen B
May 21, 2020
Good Day I am a 65 year old man living on SSDI for 20 years now. I now live in Quito, Ecuador due to the climate. Today is May 15th and I still have not received my $1200 Stimulus Direct Deposit. Do you have any information when I might receive my Direct Deposit? Thank You
FTC Staff
May 21, 2020

In reply to by Allen B

The Social Security Administration has a chart that shows when and how people who get Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability benefits, or SSI will get a payment.

The Social Security Administration reminds people that the IRS is responsible to send the payments.

Dark
May 15, 2020
As per the social security website direct deposits are still going on at least until the 27th of May. Also Social Security Retirement here and have yet to receive my payment
CSY
May 15, 2020
I live in Japan and received the stimulus check. However, no banks in Japan will cash checks since last year. What workaround is there in such a situation?
RichieJP
May 16, 2020
I’m an American living in Japan, which I have been doing p for most of my adult life. I have received the $1200 check, but I haven’t figured out a way to cash it. I don’t have a US bank account. My Japanese bank won’t take it. I visit the Japanese Postal bank, they said “no.” I visited a few other banks, they all said “no.” How do I cash it in Japan?
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