When Will Second Stimulus Checks Be Sent
The IRS is expected to start sending second stimulus checks before the end of 2020. From there, it will be a sprint to January 15, 2021, which is the IRSs deadline for sending payments. If you dont receive a second stimulus check by then, you can claim it as a recovery rebate credit on your 2020 federal income tax return.
Who Is Eligible For A Stimulus Check
- Single filers with an AGI up to $75,000 in 2019 will receive the full $600 stimulus payment. For filers with an AGI greater than $75,000, the payments be reduced by $5 for every $100 of income, before phasing out at $87,000.
- with an AGI up to $150,000 in 2019 will receive the full $1,200 stimulus payment. The same $5 per $100 phaseout applies here as well but tops out at $174,000.
- Heads of household with an AGI up to $112,500 in 2019 will be eligible for the full $600 stimulus payment. The $5 per $100 phaseout applies here and phases out at $124,500.
- Filers with qualifying children will receive $600 for every qualifying child under the age of 17 even if their income exceeds the limits above.
Who Gets A Second Stimulus Check
You should receive a check if you:
- Have a Social Security number. Unlike in the first round of stimulus payments, households in which one person has a Social Security number and another uses an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number are eligible for a $600 payment, plus $600 payments for any children who have Social Security numbers. This is a retroactive change, meaning these households should be able to claim money from the first round of stimulus checks on their 2020 tax return.
- Filed taxes in 2019.
- Didn’t file taxes in 2019, but meet other eligibility criteria.
- Don’t earn enough to file but receive federal benefits payments, including Social Security retirement or disability benefits, Supplemental Security Income , or Veterans Affairs benefits.
- Don’t earn enough to file and don’t receive federal benefits, but used the IRS nonfilers tool to input your bank or mailing information.
- Earned less than $87,000 for single filers, $124,500 for heads of household, or $174,000 for married filers according to the most recent tax return filed. Individuals earning more than $75,000 and less than $87,000 will receive a reduced payment, as will couples earning more than $150,000 and less than $174,000.
- Are an adult who is not claimed as a dependent by anyone else.
If you did not file a tax return for 2019 but are otherwise eligible for a payment, you will be able to claim it when you file your 2020 tax return.
You May Like: Do I Have To Pay Taxes On My Stimulus Check
Will Everybody Receive A Stimulus Check
No. These payments are intended to help middle- and working-class Americans, so there are income limitations based on your tax filing status. For single people, the payments are reduced for those with Adjusted Gross Incomes above $75,000. For married couples filing jointly, the phase-out begins at an AGI of $150,000. For those filing as head of household, the reductions begin at $112,500.
The payments are reduced by $5 for every $100 in AGI over the above limits. As a result, a single tax filer would see no payments if they have an AGI of $87,000 or higher. For a married couple filing jointly with no children, their payment would phase out completely with an AGI of $174,000. If youre a head of household with two qualifying kids, your payment would phase out completely at $148,500.
Wheres My Second Stimulus Check

OVERVIEW
As a part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act recently signed into law, the IRS announced that they have begun issuing a second round of stimulus payments to eligible tax filers. Here are answers to some of the top questions you may have about the second stimulus checks.
For information on the third coronavirus relief package, please visit our American Rescue Plan: What Does it Mean for You and a Third Stimulus Check blog post.
As a part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act recently signed into law, the IRS announced that they have begun issuing a second round of stimulus payments to eligible tax filers.
Here are answers to some of the top questions you may have about the second stimulus checks:
If you have an adjusted gross income of up to $75,000 , you could be eligible for the full amount of the recovery rebate $600 for eligible individuals, $1,200 for joint taxpayers, and an additional $600 for each dependent child under 17.
*Note, adjusted gross income is your gross income like wages, salaries, or interest minus adjustments for eligible deductions like student loan interest or your IRA deduction. Your AGI can be found on line 8b of your 2019 Form 1040.
The same eligibility rules apply to the second stimulus payment as the first one. You must have a valid Social Security number, and you cant have been claimed as a dependent on someone elses 2019 tax return.
You May Like: When Should I Expect My Third Stimulus Check
Reminder: Here’s Who Qualified To Receive A First Stimulus Check
In broad strokes, here’s the income cap under the CARES Act:
- You’re a single US citizen or resident alien and have an adjusted gross income less than $99,000
- You file as the head of a household and earn under $146,500
- You file jointly without children and earn less than $198,000
For everything to know about the first payment, see our guide to the first round of checks. We also have an idea for how quickly the IRS could send out the third round of payments.
Coronavirus updates
What If I Don’t Receive A Third Stimulus Check
Those who don’t file tax returns, including those who earn little income and recent college graduates, may have to wait until they file a tax return in April 2022 to get their stimulus rebate if they didn’t file a tax return for 2020 taxes or submit “non-filer” information to the IRS last year. Married couples with incomes below $24,400 and individuals with incomes under $12,200 fall into this category.
The IRS is still updating its Get My Payment tool with new payment information. Once it’s loaded with up-to-date information, individuals can check when their stimulus payment went out. If you have any issue with getting your second or third payment, see our article on what to do if you haven’t received your stimulus check.
Filing a tax return for 2020. If you don’t receive government benefits, and you didn’t file a tax return for 2019 or 2020 taxes or submit “non-filer” information to the IRS by November 21, 2020, you may not automatically get a third stimulus check. You might need to wait to file a tax return for the 2021 tax year and request a “Recovery Rebate Credit.” You will fill in the amount you are owed on line 30 of IRS Form 1040 .
Recommended Reading: Is There More Stimulus Checks Coming
How Do I Get My Check If I Havent Filed A 2019 Tax Return
If you receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits and didnt file a tax return in 2019, you wont have to file a return to receive your payment the IRS already has your information. If you dont receive those benefits and you didnt file a tax return for 2019, you may need to file one to confirm your eligibility. Check your status on the Get My Payment portal for instructions.
Nonfilers: If You Don’t Typically File Taxes Here’s What To Know And Do
The IRS automatically sent the $600 second stimulus checks to recipients, which is a double-sided coin. On the one hand, you weren’t required to do anything to receive it, but on the other, there was no way to correct an error.
For tax nonfilers, people who don’t normally file a tax return with the IRS, our best suggestion is to take your best guess in the calculator where it asks for your adjusted gross income, taking into account the yearly total of your income. This goes for older adults, Social Security and SSDI and SSI recipients, certain veterans and railroad retirees.
Many nonfilers will receive the full $600 per person, but the calculation could be a little more complex with the AGI of a spouse or child dependents in your household. If there’s an error or you don’t get your stimulus check, you will need to file a tax return in 2021 in order to claim your share of the stimulus money in a Recovery Rebate Credit.
You May Like: How To Check For Your Stimulus
I Used The 2020 Irs Non
Most likely, the IRS wasnt able to process your 2019 tax return or the information you submitted to the IRS Non-filer tool in time to issue your second stimulus check.
All second stimulus checks were issued by January 15, 2021. If you didnt get a second stimulus check by then , you can claim your second stimulus check as the Recovery Rebate Tax Credit on your 2020 tax return or use GetCTC.org if you dont have a filing requirement.
What Does Trump Want For Checks
Trump posted a video to Twitter calling for the $600 per individual or $1,200 per couple to be increased to $2,000 and $4,000, respectively. He called on Congress to send him an amended bill, something Democrats immediately welcomed. In a rare Christmas Eve session of the House, Republicans blocked a move to increase the stimulus check size to $2,000.
The Democratic-led House supports the larger checks and voted overwhelmingly Monday to increase COVID-19 relief checks to $2,000, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday blocked Democrats’ push for bigger $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks. He said the chamber would begin a process to address the issue.
Also Check: Ww.irs.gov Where My Stimulus
If I Havent Filed My 2019 Return Yet Should I Do That Now Or Wait
Theres an opportunity to manipulate the amount of your stimulus check if you havent already filed your 2019 return. For some people, you could end up with a larger check depending on whether you file your 2019 return right away or wait to file until after you get your stimulus payment. To find out which is better, use the Stimulus Check Calculator to run the numbers using both your 2018 and projected 2019 returns . If you get a higher amount using your 2018 return, wait to file. If the amount is better using 2019 numbers, then file as soon as you can .
Read Also: How Do I Sign Up For The Second Stimulus Check
How Do I Know If Im Eligible For More Stimulus Money

All stimulus check payments ended on December 31, 2021. Most Americans received their full payments, but there are a few reasons why you may not have received as much as you are eligible for: If you had a baby or added qualifying children to your family in 2021, youre due another $1,400 for each additional kid.
Likewise, if your income dropped considerably last year, you could also be owed more money.
If you believe that you are eligible for more stimulus money than you received in 2021, the best tax software will calculate your recovery rebate credit automatically and include the amount of additional money on line 30 of your IRS Form 1040.
If you want to calculate your potential recovery rebate credit yourself, use the Recovery Rebate Credit Worksheet as directed in the IRS instructions for Form 1040.
Read Also: What’s In The Stimulus Package 2021
Treasury And Irs Begin Delivering Second Round Of Economic Impact Payments To Millions Of Americans
See IRS Statement Update on Economic Impact Payments for additional information.
IR-2020-280, December 29, 2020
WASHINGTON Today, the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department will begin delivering a second round of Economic Impact Payments as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 to millions of Americans who received the first round of payments earlier this year.
The initial direct deposit payments may begin arriving as early as tonight for some and will continue into next week. Paper checks will begin to be mailed tomorrow, Wednesday, December 30.
The IRS emphasizes that there is no action required by eligible individuals to receive this second payment. Some Americans may see the direct deposit payments as pending or as provisional payments in their accounts before the official payment date of January 4, 2021. The IRS reminds taxpayers that the payments are automatic, and they should not contact their financial institutions or the IRS with payment timing questions.
As with the first round of payments under the CARES Act, most recipients will receive these payments by direct deposit. For Social Security and other beneficiaries who received the first round of payments via Direct Express, they will receive this second payment the same way.
Payments Are Automatic For Eligible Taxpayers
Payments are automatic for eligible taxpayers who filed a 2019 tax return, those who receive Social Security retirement, survivor or disability benefits , Railroad Retirement benefits as well as Supplemental Security Income and Veterans Affairs beneficiaries who didnt file a tax return. Payments are also automatic for anyone who successfully registered for the first payment online at IRS.gov using the agencys Non-Filers tool by November 21, 2020 or who submitted a simplified tax return that has been processed by the IRS.
Recommended Reading: Second Round Of Stimulus Check
Adult Dependents From College Students To Seniors
No adult dependents will qualify for the $600 checks, according to the Tax Foundation.
This means that most college students, who are typically claimed as dependents by their parents, won’t qualify for the checks. That rankled some college students, who expressed their frustration on social media. Many are struggling with a range of issues in the pandemic, from food insecurity to lost income from campus jobs that were curtailed because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Older adults, from seniors to disabled individuals, who are claimed as dependents are also excluded, an issue that some on social media called “a slap in the face.”
Disabled adults and seniors who are claimed as dependents often face higher costs due to issues such as higher medical expenses.
Who Is Not Eligible For A Stimulus Check
- Dependents. Individuals that can be claimed as a dependent are not eligible. For qualifying children under 17, the taxpayer who claims him/her will receive the stimulus payment.
- Taxpayers without an SSN or TIN. In order to be eligible for a stimulus check, you must have a social security number or taxpayer identification number.
- Individuals who died before the payment was issued.
- Nonresident aliens.
Don’t Miss: Wells Fargo Stimulus Check Delay
How Much Was Each Stimulus Check
Each stimulus check ranged from $600 to $1,400 per adult and $500 to $1,400 per child.
Stimulus check eligibility: In order to receive the full amount of the payments, your adjusted gross income cannot be more than:
- $150,000 for a joint return,
- $112,500 for head of household
- $75,000 for single and other eligible individuals
How Could A Second Stimulus Check Help The Economy
With some states reinstating lockdown measures as coronavirus cases soar in 45 states, financial protections such as $600 in enhanced unemployment running out and the coronavirus recession raging on, the question of more stimulus money for individuals and families is a pressing one.
“A full recovery is unlikely until people are confident that it is safe to reengage in a broad range of activities,” Chairman of the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell said in prepared remarks before the House committee on Financial Services on June 30.
“The path forward will also depend on the policy actions taken at all levels of government to provide relief and to support the recovery for as long as needed,” Powell added.
There’s still so much about the next potential stimulus check that we don’t know.
The Labor Department last week reported first-time unemployment claims topped 1 million for the week ending June 27, making 15 straight weeks that more than 1 million US workers filed new claims.
It’s not just the US that is suffering through a recession. According to the World Bank, we are in the deepest global recession in decades.
Read more:Best tax software for 2020: TurboTax, H& R Block, TaxSlayer and more compared
You May Like: How To Update Direct Deposit For Stimulus Check
$1200 Second Stimulus Check
Lets assume that you are an individual with no more than $75,000 of adjusted gross income or a married/joint filer with no more than $150,000 of adjusted gross income. If you are an individual or married/joint filer, the $1,200 second stimulus check would provide you more money than the $1,000 second stimulus check proposal. Why? Under the $1,200 stimulus check plan, individuals would receive $1,200, while married/joint filers would receive $2,400. If you have dependents, however, heres how the $1,200 stimulus check proposal would work:
A family of four, with married/joint filers, could receive up to $3,400 under this proposal:
- $2,400
- Dependent #2: $500
- Total: $3,400
Importantly, many Democrats support a $1,200 dependent payment, rather than the $500 dependent payment in the Heals Act. For example, House Democrats passed the Heroes Act, which included a second stimulus check of $1,200 and a dependent payment of $1,200. While its less likely that the Republican-led Senate will agree to a $1,200 dependent stimulus payment, a family of four would receive $4,800, or $1,400 more, under the House Democrats stimulus plan. That said, the Senate wont pass the Heroes Act in its current form.
Second Economic Stimulus Check: Summary Of Important Points

- Stimulus checks worth up to $600 for individuals and $1,200 for married couples are hitting bank accounts and mailboxes this month.
- Most Americans will get their second stimulus check the same way they received their first, but there are a few exceptions.
- The IRS is using information from 2019 tax returns, federal benefit accounts and its online Economic Impact Payment tool to pay most people in mid-January.
- If you dont receive your stimulus check by the end of January and youre eligible, you can claim it on your 2020 tax return.
Recommended Reading: Third Stimulus Check Status Irs