Track your mailed stimulus check using your computer or phone. Here's how to do it - CNET

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With Informed Delivery, you can see when your stimulus check has been mailed.

Angela Lang/CNET

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Are you constantly asking yourself, "Is my stimulus check in the mail?" A free service from the US Postal Service may be able to give you an answer. It's called Informed Delivery, and it can automatically send you a digital image of your physical envelopes, including the one containing your check from the IRS. Although the USPS can't tell you why your stimulus payment hasn't arrived, it can help you watch for a delivery date. 

Informed Delivery doesn't work just for stimulus checks. It's a preexisting tool that documents all your mail, which of course, includes your money from the government. There are some limitations, so you might want to start by tracking your payment using the IRS online portal first. This should give you a rough estimate of when your stimulus money will arrive. After that, Informed Delivery verifies that the check has in fact been processed by the USPS and is on its way. You can cancel anytime.

One more word before you begin. The IRS' online tracking tool, which is called Get My Payment (remember, this is separate from the USPS service), has been known to return error messages that are hard to figure out. If you run into trouble, here are 12 possible explanations for what's going on and how you might be able to work around them. And if you're hearing chatter about another economic relief bill, here's what we know about a second stimulus check, which is now being negotiated.

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Am I definitely getting my stimulus check in the mail?

At this point, you're more likely to receive your money in the mail than in your bank account. That's because the IRS deadline to provide your direct deposit information passed on May 13. 

The federal revenue agency said its focus is now on sending payments in the mail 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 in the mail.

Informed Delivery: Quickly check that you're eligible

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

The service is available to many residential and personal PO box addresses but not businesses. It also won't work for some multiunit buildings where the Postal Service hasn't yet identified each unit.

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

1. Head to the Postal Service's Informed Delivery page and tap the Sign Up for Free button.

2. Enter your mailing address, and tap Continue. 

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

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Set up the Informed Delivery service

Setting up your account is straightforward. 

1. On the Postal Service's Informed Delivery page, tap Sign Up for Free.

2. After you enter your mailing address and confirm it'll work with the service, you'll need to accept the terms and conditions and tap Continue. 

3. On the next page, choose your username, password and security questions. Then, enter your contact information and tap Continue.

4. On the next page, you'll 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 Postal Service to mail a code to you. If neither method works for you, may also be given the option to visit a post office to verify your identity in person.

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How to see your own personal mailbag 

It can take three business days to activate your account after you set it up. Once it's live, you will receive an email each morning Monday through Saturday if mail is scheduled to arrive, notifying you of mail that will be 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 on ordering and receiving packages during the coronavirus pandemic, here's how to find household goods when Amazon and other online stores are out of stock, how to order beer and wine online, and how long the virus can survive on packages.

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Track your mailed stimulus check using your computer or phone. Here's how to do it - CNET
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