If You Haven’t Yet Filed

For those filing solely to claim the payment

If you normally don’t file a federal tax return but must file one this year solely to claim your economic stimulus payment, you should file by Oct. 15, 2008, to ensure that you receive the payment this year. It will generally take a minimum of eight weeks after you file your return to get your stimulus payment.

For extension filers

If you filed Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, you must file your tax return by Oct. 15, 2008. Processing times for tax returns and stimulus payments vary.

If you’re getting a regular income tax refund, the IRS will send you that refund first. Your separate stimulus payment should follow one to two weeks after you receive your refund. If you’re not expecting a regular tax refund, it will generally take a minimum of eight weeks after you file your return to get your stimulus payment.

If You Filed After April 15

If you filed a tax return after April 15 to claim your stimulus payment, it will generally take up to eight weeks after you filed to get your stimulus payment.

If You Filed Before April 15

Economic stimulus payments were issued according to the last two-digits of the main filer's Social Security number. For joint filers, the payment was issued based on the person listed first on the return. Payments were made by either direct deposit or paper check. Payments should have been received by close of business on the dates listed below.