BobKamman
Level 15

All IRS had to do was keep the website open that had the dates of the first two payments.  Instead, they took it down so they could report the amount of the third one -- a number we don't need until next year.  There would still have been a few problems, without knowing the amounts -- were they based on 2018 or 2019 AGI?  But for most people, it would have been simple.  

And then there are the people whose 2019 returns were not processed until spring of 2021. They may have had a couple hundred thousand AGI but IRS only knew they were collecting Social Security, so they sent them $1,400 anyway.   Fortunately, they don't have to pay it back.  But if their 2021 AGI is less than usual, we'll have to remember to check on how much has already been paid.