IRS says it issued $158 billion in coronavirus payments through April 17

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said Friday that it issued about 88 million coronavirus relief payments to households through April 17, with the payments totaling almost $158 billion.

The new figures are in line with comments Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made last week about the IRS having already issued more than 80 million payments via direct deposit. 

The agency has issued additional payments this week, including by starting to issue paper checks. The IRS plans to issue additional payments in the coming days and weeks, including to people who are not required to file tax returns and receive certain federal benefits, such as Social Security.

“The IRS, Treasury and partner agencies are working non-stop to get these payments out in record time to Americans who need them,” IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig said in a statement. “Tens of millions of people across the country are receiving these payments, and millions more are on the way.”

Under legislation President Trump signed last month, most households are entitled to one-time payments of up to $1,200 per adult and $500 per child.

The IRS said that in total, it expects to send more than 150 million payments.

Tens of millions of people have yet to receive their payments, causing confusion and frustration. Some taxpayers have reported receiving incorrect amounts or having their payments sent to a bank account that’s not their personal bank account. 

The IRS also released state-by-state figures about the payments on Friday. According to the data, the IRS has issued the largest numbers of payments through April 17 to residents of California, Florida and Texas. The agency has sent 9.1 million payments to California taxpayers, 7.8 million to Texas taxpayers and 6.3 million to Florida taxpayers.