[Jan 9, 2021] The IRS said it is mailing 8 million prepaid Visa debit cards loaded with a federal stimulus payment, advising people to keep an eye open for the envelopes if the funds aren’t directly deposited in their bank accounts.
The tax agency also said it has changed the envelopes to make it more evident that they include the $600 payment, which Congress approved in late December.
Last spring, some people discarded their prepaid debit cards loaded with the first round of stimulus money because the envelopes weren’t clearly marked as coming from the IRS or Treasury Department. The IRS said the latest batch of debit cards will be mailed in a white envelope with a label that “prominently displays” the Treasury seal.
“IRS and Treasury urge eligible people who don’t receive a direct deposit to watch their mail carefully during this period,” the IRS said in a statement.
The agency started delivering the second round of stimulus checks into millions of bank accounts this week, providing $600 for each eligible adult and child. Because the IRS doesn’t have bank account information for all those who are eligible for payments, it is also sending paper checks as well as prepaid debit cards to millions of households.
The IRS has rushed to send the latest checks after the stimulus payments were signed into law on December 27 by President Donald Trump. The money has gone out faster this time around, with the checks deposited directly into millions of bank accounts on January 4 — a little over a week following Mr. Trump’s signature.