Where Can I Find Information
The Economic Impact Payment program is managed by the IRS and the United States Treasury. For accurate guidance, including how to provide or update direct deposit information, filing directions for those who have not filed a return, or to check the status of your payment, visit the IRS at Economic Impact Payments.
Calculate Your Stimulus Payment
Use details from your 2018 or 2019 tax return, whichever is most recent.
1. Choose your filing status below.
2. What was your adjusted gross income ?
3. How many qualified dependents did you claim in your taxes?
Note: If you aren’t able to view the calculator, please . If on a mobile device, allow the calculator to load into a new browser tab.
When You’ll Receive Your Payment
The final date to qualify has already passed for filers other than those with pending ITINs. If you have already filed, you don’t have to do anything.
If you have not received a payment by now, you will most likely receive a paper check. In addition, if you did not receive a refund with your tax return or owed money at the time of filing, you will receive a paper check.
Payments will go out based on the last 3 digits of the ZIP code on your 2020 tax return. Some payments may need extra time to process for accuracy and completeness. If your tax return is processed during or after the date of your scheduled ZIP code payment, allow up to 60 days after your return has processed. Please allow up to three weeks to receive the paper checks once they are mailed out.
Last 3 digits of ZIP code | Mailing timeframes |
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What About The Second Stimulus Check Amount And Dates
Congress approved another economic relief bill at the end of last year, and the second round of stimulus check payments began sending as early as Dec. 29, 2020. This payment capped out at $600 per person, and another $600 per qualifying child dependent. If you don’t have IRS Notice 1444-B and can’t find anything in your December and January bank statements, check out our handy stimulus check 2 calculator to get an idea of what you were entitled to and then head to the IRS website to get what you need.
What If I Owe Child Support Payments Back Taxes Money To Creditors Or Debt Collectors Or Federal Or State Debt

Both the first and second stimulus check cannot be reduced to pay any federal or state debts. Unlike the first stimulus check, your second stimulus check cannot be reduced if you owe past-due child support payments and is protected from garnishment by creditors and debt collectors.
If you use direct deposit and owe your bank overdraft fees, the bank may deduct these from your payment.
If you are claiming the payments as part of your 2020 tax refund , the payments are no longer protected from past-due child support payments, creditor and debt collectors, and other federal or state debt that you owe . In other words, if you receive your first and second stimulus checks as part of your tax refund instead of direct checks, it may be reduced.
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The Second Round Of Stimulus Checks
The second round of stimulus payments were authorized on December 27, 2020 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Those payments typically totaled $600 per person, or $1,200 for married individuals, plus $600 for each qualifying child. The payments began phasing out at the same income levels as the current payments, but the maximum income levels to receive a payment were slightly higher. Taxpayers were ineligible for any payment, unless they had a qualifying child, above the following income levels:
- $87,000 for single taxpayers
- $124,500 for taxpayers filing as head of household
- $174,000 for married couples filing jointly
As of March 5, 2021, about $135 billion of the second round of payments have been sent out overall, such payments are expected to cost a total of $164 billion according to the Congressional Budget Office.
How Much Was The Third Stimulus Check
The third stimulus check was $1,400 per adult and $1,400 per child.
$1,400 , plus
$1,400 multiplied by the number of dependents of the taxpayer for such taxable year.
-SEC. 6428B. 2021 RECOVERY REBATES TO INDIVIDUALS.
Individuals and families that made less than but not over the following amounts could receive a partial stimulus check:
- $160,000 for joint filing
- $120,000 for head of household
- $80,000 for single and other eligible individuals
The third stimulus check got sent out hours after it was signed with an official payment date of March 17th however, some individuals received it earlier from their bank.
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When Will A Second Stimulus Check Be Issued
The government began sending direct deposit payments on December 28, 2020. Paper checks were sent out starting on December 30, 2020.
Payments are automatically sent to:
- Eligible individuals who filed a 2019 tax return.
- Social Security recipients, including Social Security Disability Insurance , railroad retirees, and Supplemental Security and Veteran Affairs beneficiaries.
- Individuals who successfully registered for the first stimulus check online using the IRS Non-Filers tool or who submitted a simplified tax return that has been processed by the IRS
There is no action that you have to take to get your second stimulus check. People who provided their banking information with the IRS shouldve received their stimulus checks by direct deposit. Social Security and Veterans Affairs beneficiaries who received the first payment via Direct Express shouldve received the second payment the same way.
The IRS sent paper checks or prepaid debit cards to people who did not provide their banking information. Mailed payments may be delivered in a different format than the first 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.
Option : Your Physical Irs Letters
Remember the confirmation notices that you got in the mail about two weeks after receiving your first and second payments? If you qualified for a check, the IRS would’ve sent the notice to your last known address with information about your payment. Notice 1444 accompanied the first payment and Notice 1444-B followed the second payment.
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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
Golden State Stimulus Check Summary
Heres the bottom line:
The state of California will provide the Golden Status Stimulus payment to families and people who qualify.
There is Golden State Stimulus I and Golden State Stimulus II.
The Golden State Stimulus II payments are different from the Golden State Stimulus I payments.
Adults without kids who received a check from the first Golden State Stimulus program will not receive another check.
To receive your payment, file your 2020 tax returns by October 15, 2021.
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Important: Make Sure You Have Your Agi
CNET’s stimulus check calculator tool is based on rules from the CARES Act that was passed in March, 2020. It’s intended to give you an estimate of what you should have received in your first stimulus check. To use the tool, you’ll need your adjusted gross income, or AGI, from your 2019 or 2018 tax information. You can find that figure on line 8b of the 2019 1040 tax form and line 7 on the 2018 1040 tax form.
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.
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California Stimulus Check Date
The state tax agency started sending out payments via direct deposit between September 1, 2021, and October 15, 2021.
Taxpayers that dont have direct deposit set up with the state will receive a paper check.
All paper checks will be sent out based on the last three digits of a filers ZIP code on the tax return.
Who Gets A Stimulus Check
Stimulus checks are available to eligible U.S. individuals with Social Security numbers. However, eligibility rules vary depending on the checks.
For the first two payments, anyone claimed as a dependent wasn’t eligible for their own check. However, individuals who claimed dependents under 17 could receive a payment for them. The third check still prohibits dependents from claiming their own checks. However, individuals who claim dependents can now receive a payment for adult dependents as well as for dependent children over age 17.
There are also income limits. Each of the three checks is available in full to single tax filers with an income under $75,00. Heads of house with an income under $112,500 are also eligible, as are married joint filers with an income under $150,000. However, phase-out rules — the level at which high earners lose eligibility for checks — differ for each payment, as we’ll discuss in more detail below.
The IRS utilized tax return information from 2018 or 2019 to determine income and eligibility for the first two checks. It will use tax return information from 2019 or 2020 to determine income and eligibility for the third payment. The agency also obtained information from the Social Security Administration and VA to send payments to benefits recipients who don’t file tax returns. And it established an online form for non-filers to claim their payments.
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How Can I Check My Stimulus Check Status
The IRS has created a website where you can check the status of your stimulus payment.
The Get My Payment tool is no longer updating for either the first or second stimulus check. However, you can use it to see the status of your third check.
- If your payment has been processed. the IRS will specify its status including whether it has been sent, the date issued, and whether the money will be directly deposited or mailed.
- If your status reads “Payment Not Available.” The IRS either hasn’t yet processed your payment or you aren’t eligible for one.
- If it reads “Need More Information.” Your check was returned to the IRS after an attempted delivery. Give the IRS your bank information to receive your money.
If you did not get your first or second check, you’ll need to file a 2020 tax return to get the payment.
Stimulus Check : Whats Next
The Senate Republicans proposal is only in the early stages, and lawmakers in both chambers and parties have to agree on a bill that President Trump is willing to sign.
Negotiators initially suggested they could reach a deal before federal unemployment benefits expire on July 31, but thats looking unlikely. CNN reports that while the specifics of stimulus check 2 are generally acceptable to both sides, they are far from agreement on most of the other provisions in the HEALS Act.
The Senate has a scheduled recess coming up on Aug. 10, which means lawmakers have a limited window to come to a consensus before the fall.
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How Do I Get My Second Stimulus Check
You dont need to do anything if:
- You have filed a tax return for tax year 2019.
- You are a Social Security recipient, including Social Security Disability Insurance , railroad retiree. Or, you are a Supplemental Security Insurance and Veterans Affairs beneficiary.
- You have successfully registered for the first stimulus check online using the IRS Non-Filers tool or submitted a simplified tax return that has been processed by the IRS.
The IRS shouldve automatically sent your payment. 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.
About California Golden State Stimulus Check
In February 2021, California lawmakers approved Governor Newsoms Golden State Stimulus program to send $600 payments to about 5.7 million of Californias lowest-income workers, with extra help for undocumented workers who file taxes.
This became known as Golden State Stimulus I.
In May 2021, Governor Newsom proposed sending the stimulus payments to Californias middle class, too.
California lawmakers approved the plan in late June 2021.
Under the expansion, taxpayers earning as much as $75,000 a year qualify.
Under the Golden State Stimulus II program:
Eligible Californians will receive a payment of $600, and an extra $500 if they claimed at least one dependent on their 2020 taxes, bringing the total maximum amount to $1,100.
However, some recipients of the first Golden State Stimulus payment may also qualify for an additional payment of $500 if they previously claimed a dependent.
Families with at least one dependent get a $500 boost, which increases to $1,000 if they are undocumented and file taxes.
According to Gov. Gavin Newsoms administration, two out of every three Californians are eligible for a share of $12 billion in Golden State Stimulus payments.
Heres who is eligible for Golden State Stimulus I and Golden State Stimulus II.
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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
How To Make Sure You Receive Your Credits As Soon As Possible

The Recovery Rebate Credit worksheet requires that you know the specific amounts you were supposed to receive, according to the IRS. By doing the investigation and calculation work in advance, youll most likely end up getting your stimulus check and tax refund faster.
To get it correct, that cannot be overemphasized, Steber says. These Recovery Rebate Credits are real cash, and they sent out hundreds of millions in the two tranches. If you did in fact receive it and forget about it, it could add weeks to your tax return timeline.
Your tax refund will be passed more quickly and safely if you electronically file and provide a direct deposit, the IRS says.
Typically, the IRS is good at sending out refunds within a couple of weeks within electronically filing, Bronnenkant says.
Not included in 2020s Recovery Rebate Credit is a third stimulus payment worth $1,400 or more, distributed to Americans beginning in mid-March after President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. Taxpayers will most likely have to wait until 2021 to claim those missing relief payments, Jaeger says.
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How To Use The $1200 Stimulus Calculator
The CARES Act allowed Americans to claim child dependents for $500 each, as long as they’re 16 years old or younger . Here are exceptions to the current rules regarding when someone who’s 17 to 24 years old can claim a stimulus check. If you don’t typically file taxes, or have different circumstances, this provides more information.
Americans Who Didnt Receive The Full Stimulus Amount That They Were Entitled To
If you received a payment but you dont think it was as much as it shouldve been, you should claim your Recovery Rebate Credit.
Americans should first think back to what they were eligible for from both rounds of stimulus payments. Individuals earning up to $75,000 in adjustable gross income were eligible for the full $1,200 payment in March and the second $600 payment from late December and early January. Married couples earning up to $150,000 were eligible for payments twice that size. Those earners were also eligible for an extra $500 and $600 for every dependent claimed on their taxes.
After that, payments phased out by $5 per every $100 over those income thresholds. This is probably where it gets a bit trickier.
Because the first stimulus check was larger, payments phased out at a later point on the income scale than they did for the second round. Reduced $1,200 checks went out to individuals who made up to $99,000 a year and married couples who earned up to $198,000. In the second round, individuals and married filers were eligible for a partial check up until earning $87,000 and $174,000, respectively.
Its important to calculate first for yourself how much youre owed. Then, compare that with official documents from the IRS showing your stimulus check amount. Those can include the letter accompanying your payment, as well as another special form, Notice 1444 or Notice 1444-B, which most likely came with your first check earlier in 2020.
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