Receive notification the day your stimulus check arrives by mail. Here's how

If you constantly check your mailbox to see if your stimulus check has arrived the US Postal Service may save you some time and anxiety. We'll tell you all about a free service that will show you a digital image of your envelope and even send you a notification when your payment is on its way.

The free service, called Informed Delivery, has some limitations, so you may prefer to track your payment through the online IRS tool. This should give you an estimate of when your payment will arrive. After that, Informed Delivery checks whether the check has actually been processed by the post and is on its way.

A word before you start. If you use the IRS online tracking tool, which is called Get My Payment (remember this is separate from the USPS service), there is a chance that you will have problems such as a hard to distinguish error message or problems identifying who you are . If you do, here are 12 possible explanations for what is going on and how you could get around it.

If you're starting to get nervous, here are nine reasons why you may not have received your stimulus control yet . And if you are chattering about another bill on economic relief, then what we know about is the possibility of a second round of stimulus checks .

How do I know if I receive my stimulus check? the mail?

At the moment, you are more likely to receive your money by post than to your bank account. That's because the IRS deadline for providing your direct deposit information passed on May 13.

The Federal Tax Agency said it will now turn its attention to sending postal payments through the post office – either as a paper check or as a prepaid debit card, called the economic impact payment or EIP card. Read on to track your payment envelope by mail.

Get Eligible for Informed Delivery

When the USPS passes mail through its automated mail sorting equipment, it creates a digital image of the front of all letters. format mail, and that includes your stimulus check. The Informed Delivery program uses this digitally recorded information to notify you when each piece of mail is on its way.

The service is available for many private and personal mailbox addresses, but not for businesses. It also does not work for some multi-unit buildings where the postal service has not yet identified a unit.

Here's how to check if it's available in your area:

1. Go to the Informed Postal Service Delivery page and tap the button Register for Free ].

2. Enter your mailing address and tap Continue .

If the service is available, you can continue to create an account.

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Set up the Informed Delivery Service

If you are eligible, you can set up your account as follows.

1. On the Informed Delivery Service page, if you have not already done so, tap Register for Free .

2. After entering your postal address and confirming it is in the service, accept the terms and then tap Continue .

3. On the next page, choose your username, password and security questions; enter your contact details; and then tap Continue .

4. On the next page you need to verify your identity. Tap Verify identity online if you want to receive a verification code on your phone or tap Request invitation code by mail if you want the mail to mail you a code. If neither method works for you, you may also be able to visit a post office to personally verify your identity.

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How to See What Comes in by Mail

The IRS said it could take three business days for your account to be activated after you set it up. Once it's live, you'll receive an email every morning Monday through Saturday when mail is scheduled, with a notification of the mail being delivered, along with a grayscale image of the front of the letter.

You can also use the free Android and iPhone Informed Delivery app to be notified.

For more information about ordering and receiving packages during the coronavirus pandemic you can find household items when Amazon and other online stores are out of stock how beer and wine can be ordered online and how long the virus can survive on packages .