https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/your-stimulus-check-might-be-delayed-if-you-filed-your-n1252912

“These payments may begin to arrive in some accounts by direct deposit as early as tonight and will continue into next week,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin tweeted on Dec. 29.

Millions of taxpayers with active direct deposit information on file with the IRS started receiving theirs in the first few days.

But when some filers went to the IRS “Get My Payment” tracker to check on their relief aid, they were surprised to see a different bank account number listed as their own — and no money in their own bank account.

A similar issue cropped up with the first round of stimulus payments in April. Some taxpayers who use “Refund Transfer” services that allow them to pay their tax preparer out of their tax refund itself, an appealing option for struggling filers, also had their payments delayed due to an administrative quirk.

In order for the refund transfer to work, the preparer creates a temporary bank account to receive the refund, takes their cut, then passes on the rest to the filer, and closes the account. But the IRS used the closed bank account on file, leaving some funds in limbo.

Depending on the situation, some of these customers will still get their funds automatically direct deposited to their bank account or reloadable pre-paid debit card.

However, others could face further delays, possibly receiving a paper check, or only receiving their stimulus payment in the form of a credit on their 2020 taxes — next year.

“In some cases, money was sent to a different account than the first stimulus payment last spring,” tax preparation company H&R Block said in a statement emailed to NBC News.

On Tuesday evening, the IRS updated its guidance and said if the tracking site "reflects a direct deposit date and partial account information, then your payment is deposited there."

If the site lists the date a payment was mailed, it may take up to four weeks and consumers should "watch your mail carefully for a check or debit card."

But if the tracker says “Payment Status #2 – Not Available" then filers' only option is to claim a tax credit. That is done by completing line 30 of the 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR.