The $2.2 trillion congressional coronavirus relief plan passed in March did not shield the stimulus payments from certain private debt collectors, though it specifically protected the money from being taken to cover unpaid taxes or federal student loan payments. Some states and local governments -- including Massachusetts, Ohio, Illinois and Washington, DC -- have issued their own orders to shield the stimulus payments from private debt collectors. The stimulus payments are meant to provide emergency assistance during the coronavirus outbreak. She said many Americans may not know their bank account is at risk of seizure because they have not been served properly in a collection lawsuit. The stimulus payment should be deposited in the same bank account where you received your tax refund in either 2018 or 2019.