With the Senate approving President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package over the weekend, millions of Americans are now in line to receive another round of stimulus checks.

There are, however, a few wrinkles that still need to be worked out. Therefore, the bill will return to the House for final approval, given that the Senate and House versions of the relief bill have some differences. Then it will head to the president for his signature.

After the bill is signed into law, the IRS could begin sending out direct deposits and delivering the checks within days.  

If you’re still wondering exactly when you will have access to that $1,400 check, know that if the bill becomes law by March 14, it is very likely that the first batch of payments will begin to go out before April 1.

Like the previous stimulus payments, direct deposit recipients would be the first to get the money, followed by those receiving physical checks, which can take weeks to arrive by mail, and EIP cards, a prepaid debit card that one must activate online before using.

“By next weekend, a couple making less than $160,000 could well have $2,800 deposited into their checking account,” Chris Krueger, of Cowen & Co., said in an analyst note before the Senate approved the bill.

However, fewer Americans may receive checks this time around due to a change in the Senate’s version of the bill.  

Individuals who earn as much as $75,000, or couples making $150,000—in addition to their children or adult dependents—qualify for the full $1,400 per individual. Single parents with at least one dependent who earn $112,500 or less also get the full amount. Families in which some members have different citizenship and immigration classifications are also eligible for a payment if at least one person has a Social Security number.  

Keep in mind that the payments phase out much more quickly than in previous rounds—an individual with an income of $80,000, or a couple with $160,000, will receive nothing.  

And since the IRS will use the most recent adjusted gross income in its system, know that it is probably smart to wait to file your taxes if you qualify for a bigger stimulus check based on your 2019 income. Also, contributing more to tax-favored retirement or health savings accounts or deferring income, such as waiting to sell a business stake or stock, could keep your income within the limit to qualify for the full stimulus check amount.  

In addition to the direct payments, the Senate bill seeks to extend the $300 boost in weekly unemployment benefits through September.  

Ethen Kim Lieser is a Minneapolis-based Science and Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek, and Arirang TV. Follow or contact him on LinkedIn.  

Image: Reuters.