The IRS has revealed that a technical problem led 2% of eligible households to miss their September payment. The agency says it has been trying to fix the problem and issue the outstanding payments.
How to Check the Status of Your Child Tax Credit Check
Recurring monthly payments will be deposited into your bank account on the 15th of each month from now until December. According to the IRS, you can view your processed monthly payment history by using the Child Tax Credit Update Portal. It'll be a good approach to keep track of any pending payments that haven't yet been processed through your bank account.
If you haven't received the money yet, check the Processed Payments section of the Update Portal for details. If the payment was delivered, double-check your address and financial information, especially if you've recently relocated or switched banks.
You'll need to register with your IRS username and ID.me account credentials to check on your payments online. A photo ID is required for first-time users (it's one of the ways the IRS tries to protect your information from identity theft).
We don't know if the site will show other payment information, such as banking information, the amount, the check's processing date, or what might be causing the payment to be delayed.
If you're looking through your bank account, look for the CHILDCTC deposit. If your bank hasn't received the IRS deposit, it won't be able to locate your check because it won't have any processing information. Start by utilizing the Update Portal to double-check the bank details the IRS has on file, such as your account information and routing numbers, if you believe there is an error.
When to File a Payment Trace for a Missing Check
The IRS also provides a payment trace service to help you locate payments, including funds from missing stimulus checks. By mailing or faxing Form 3911 (PDF) to the IRS, you can request a trace, which is an inquiry into the whereabouts of your IRS funds.
Even if the IRS says you're not qualified for advance payments, it's a good idea to submit a payment trail just in case the site goes down.
If it's been at least five days after the deposit date and the bank hasn't received the money, four weeks since the check was mailed, or six weeks if it was mailed to a forwarded address listed by USPS, your payment will be traceable. If the check was mailed to a foreign address, you can request a payment trace after nine weeks.
