How to receive coronavirus relief aid in your Wise account

The US government is sending coronavirus relief payments to US citizens and foreign nationals in the US. In this article, we explain what the payments are, who’s eligible for them, and how to receive yours.

If you’d like to get your relief payment paid into your Wise account, it’s simple to locate your US bank details from your account and enter them in the IRS web portal. It’s quick to set up, free to receive payments, and it’s faster, more convenient and secure than a check.

What are coronavirus relief payments?

In response to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the economy, last month the US government signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES).

The law provides direct economic assistance for American workers and families, and it's expected that up to 150 million American citizens and eligible foreign residents will receive Economic Impact Payments as a form of financial support.

Why is the government issuing these checks?

The lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic has put a significant strain on jobs, employers and the economy. In an effort to support people financially during this difficult time, the government is providing a one-off payment to help people weather the storm.

Are you eligible?

It depends on how much you earn, but the majority of American workers are eligible. However, high earners will not receive payments. Below is a breakdown of how the payments are calculated.

How much will you receive?

The rebate amount you are eligible to receive depends on your tax filing status and your earnings.

The starting point is that each adult will receive $1,200 and each child $500. However, above a certain income threshold the amount you receive will decrease by $5 for every $100 in additional earnings. The threshold for this phaseout depends on your filing status:

• Single filers: The threshold for the phaseout begins at $75,000 (before tax). So, for example, if you earn $80,000, you’ll receive $900 because of your higher income. If you earn more than $99,000, you won’t receive a rebate.
• Head of household: The threshold begins at $112,500, after which point the phaseout begins. So, you won’t receive a rebate if you have 1 child and earn over $146,500 or if you have 2 children and earn over $156,500.
• Joint filers: If you file jointly, the phaseout begins at $150,000. So, if your combined income is over $198,000 and you don’t have children, you won't receive a rebate.

This graph from the Tax Foundation is a simple way of understanding how the payments are structured according to your income and tax status.

How to receive the payment.

There are two ways to receive this rebate: Check or Direct Deposit to your account. However, where possible, it’s always faster and more convenient to use Direct Deposits.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides the information you need to track your payment or enter the details for the account into which you want to get paid. It varies slightly depending on whether you filed taxes recently or not:

1. Filed taxes in 2018 or 2019?
If you filed your taxes last year, there’s a good chance that you will automatically receive your payment without having to enter more information, if you haven’t already. Be sure to check your account carefully to see if any payments have been deposited there.

However, you can check your payment’s status on the IRS web portal. This portal also lets you update the account into which you would like to be paid, provided that your payment has not been completed or initiated (in which case it’ll be marked ‘pending’). If you’d like to get paid into your Wise account, scroll down for details on how to find your bank details.

2. Didn’t file taxes last year?
If you earned less than $12,200 ($24,400 for married couples), or were not required to fill in a tax return last year, there’s a dedicated web portal for you on the IRS website. Again, you can provide your Wise account details to get paid here. Scroll down to see how to locate them.

How to get paid into your Wise account.

Simply log in to your Wise account and click on your USD balance. Here you will see your account number and your ACH/ABA number. These are the two you need to submit to the IRS web portal to receive a direct deposit. Be sure not to select the wire transfer number accidentally.

If you haven’t yet opened a USD balance yet, simply click on Open a balance, select USD, and click on Get bank details. You’ll need to add a top up to get started and send some basic information to verify your identity. Here’s a simple walk-through.

And if you haven’t created an account with Wise yet, click here to get started. It’s free and takes just a few clicks.

There’s more information about updating your bank account details and tracking your payment status on the IRS website. Scroll down to the section titled ‘Bank Account Information’ in their frequently asked questions.

What’s next?

For now, this is the only payment that has been announced by the government, although the situation remains subject to rapid change.

When it comes to managing your finances and international payments during this difficult time, we know how important it is to have predictable, reliable access to your money. We’re here to make sure that moving your money is one less thing to worry about right now.