The US will send cards with the $1,200 coronavirus aid to those who have not received the direct deposit

The United States Department of the Treasury will send the 1,200 dollars of help for coronavirus on Visa prepaid debit cards instead of a paper check to those who have not received the money through direct deposit to their bank account.

In that case there are about 4 million Americans who did not provide their direct deposit information on their tax returns for the last two years to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

“Treasury and the IRS have been working with unprecedented speed to issue Economic Impact Payments to American families. “Prepaid debit cards are secure, easy to use, and allow us to get Americans their money quickly,” Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said in a statement.

The so-called EIP cards can be activated immediately after receiving them by telephone or via the Internet. In the same way, the person can check their balance as they use it. The authorities also clarify that since these are not gift cards, the recipient can withdraw the amount of cash they want at ATMs and make transfers to their bank account.

The cards are also used to make purchases at any establishment or e-commerce that accepts Visa cards. In no case will an additional charge be charged.

In this case, the IRS will not be responsible for sending the money. MetaBank, a banking entity administered by the Treasury debit card program, will carry out the process with the 4 million Americans waiting for government help.

Tax authorities explained that so far more than $140 million in aid has been sent to Americans through direct deposit, totaling $239 billion.

Initially, the IRS had provided the option on its website Get My Payment where the people They could enter their information. This service, although it was improved, received a lot of criticism because it was impossible for users to complete the form.

Currently in the US, a second economic aid project for people is being discussed due to the impact that the coronavirus has had on the economy. Last week Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate majority leader, said he was open to consider another measure to ease the blow caused by the pandemic.

"We're all talking about this. I've talked to the Treasury Secretary, I've talked to the president's chief of staff, I've talked to the president... We all think another law will probably be necessary," he said.