What Is A Recovery Rebate Credit
The IRS has lots of different rules, regulations and terms that make things confusing for filers, but pay no attention to the man behind the curtain: The Recovery Rebate Credit is simply just another name for your stimulus check. And if you were one of the lucky Americans who received two EIPs with no problems, you technically just received an advance of that Recovery Rebate Credit.
Americans can claim that credit by filling out a new, special section on their 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR if theyre a senior. That also goes for taxpayers who normally dont have to file a tax return, according to the IRS.
But rest assured: Receiving a stimulus check wont come back to bite you. The IRS says that the credit will only increase the amount you receive as a tax refund or decrease the amount you owe, rather than subtract from the refund youre entitled to. Your stimulus check also isnt considered taxable income.
California Adjusted Gross Income
You must have $1 to $75,000 of California AGI to qualify for GSS II. Only certain income is included in your CA AGI . If you have income that’s on this list, you may meet the CA AGI qualification. To receive GSS II and calculate your CA AGI, you need to file a complete 2020 tax return by October 15, 2021. Visit Ways to file, including free options, for more information.
Income included in CA AGI
Generally, these are included in your CA AGI:
- Wages and self-employment income
- Gains on a sale of property
Visit Income types for a list of the common types of income.
Income excluded from CA AGI
Generally, these are not included in your CA AGI:
- Social Security
- Supplemental Security Income /State Supplementary Payment and Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants
- State Disability Insurance and VA disability benefits
- Unemployment income
You would generally not qualify for GSS II if these were your only sources of income. However, if you have income that is included in CA AGI in addition to this list, you may qualify for GSS II.
For information about specific situations, refer to federal Form 1040 and 1040-SR Instructions and California 2020 Instructions for Form 540. Go to Line 17 of Form 540 for CA AGI.
If you receive Social Security
You may be wondering whether or not you qualify for GSS II if you receive Social Security income. Social Security income is not included in CA AGI. However, if you have $1 or more of CA AGI , you may qualify for GSS II.
How To Track Your Stimulus Payment
If you’re wondering where your plus-up payment or stimulus payment are, you have the ability to track the status to determine whether the IRS believes you are eligible and if the IRS has sent it out yet. As with the stimulus payments, you will use the IRS’s Get My Payment tool to see the status of your plus-up payment. If you are eligible, the tool will tell you how and when the money will be sent to you.
You can also use the USPS Informed Delivery system to keep an eye on your mailbox if you’re expecting to see a paper check arrive in the mail.
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My Address Changed How Can I Tell The Irs
Many people moved in 2020, which means if you are one of those expecting a mailed check or pre-paid debit card, you may be concerned about the payment reaching you.
Unfortunately, the IRS’ “Get My Payment” site doesn’t allow people to update their addresses. Instead, the IRS is urging people to file their 2020 tax returns with their current address.
However, given that the deadline for filing 2020 tax returns has been pushed back to May 17 from its typical April 15 cutoff, there are likely millions of people who haven’t yet filed their tax forms and aren’t likely to do so before the IRS distributes most of its checks.
The IRS said that payments that can’t be delivered to eligible people will be returned to the tax agency. If that happens, the IRS’ “Get My Payment” site will show you a “Need More Information” message, which will then allow you to enter direct deposit information or ask for the stimulus check to be delivered on a pre-paid debit card.
You Had A Lifestyle Change In 2020 That Wasnt Reflected In Your 2019 Taxes
A lot can change in a year, and its very possible the IRS didnt have enough up-to-date information accurately reflecting your financial situation.
A few circumstances that could qualify you for more money: You had a baby in 2020, or adopted or fostered a child. Less common, say you share joint custody with a child but only rotate that responsibility every other year. You might be eligible for extra money by filing for a credit, and there are instances when your former spouse might pocket extra money as well.
Say I filed with Susie Q. in 2019 and I got the stimulus checks for that child, and then my divorced spouse filed with Susie Q. for 2020. She would get the Recovery Rebate Credit as well, says Mark Jaeger, director of tax development at TaxAct. Its a little bit of double dipping, but it is something that is allowed.
Additionally, maybe you got married or divorced. Perhaps you graduated college and started working, meaning youre no longer considered a dependent. And, as is likely the case for millions of Americans, perhaps you had a higher-paying job in 2019 but lost that position in 2020. Even individuals who were working in 2019 but retired in 2020 could be eligible for the credit.
These are just a sampling of circumstances that might mean youre eligible for a stimulus check or a higher amount.
Theres a lot of reasons why you may be due more that are all legitimate, Steber says. Its real money, and its a lot of money.
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Your Stimulus Payment Is Scheduled In The Next Batches
If youre anxious because theres no stimulus check yet in your hands, the reason could be because you are scheduled to receive your payment in the next batch. Because this round of stimulus payments coincided with the tax season, the IRS said that the stimulus payments will be sent out in batches. This means it could take some weeks for you to receive your payment especially if youre getting a paper check or a debit card.
Where’s My 3rd Stimulus Check
The IRS is sending stimulus funds throughout 2021. If you haven’t received your payment yet, don’t assume you won’t ever get it.
You can check the status of your stimulus check using the IRS’s “Get My Payment” tool, which updates once a day. It will show you when and how your money is being sent, either direct deposit or through the mail .
If you get a “not available” status message, the IRS says you’re either not eligible for a third stimulus check or your payment hasn’t been processed yet. If you get a “need more information” message, you can enter your direct-deposit details to speed up your payment.
If you didn’t qualify for the third check based on 2019 income but that’s the most recent return the IRS has for you, file your 2020 return as soon as you can. Your payment will be sent once the IRS has processed your return.
If you aren’t required to file a tax return because your income is too low and you didn’t register using the IRS nonfilers tool last year, you will need to file a 2020 tax return to get any of the stimulus checks.
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How To Get Missing Funds From Previous Stimulus Payments
If you’re certain you meet the qualifications to receive the first or second stimulus check, what to do next depends on your situation.
If you never got your money or a confirmation letter from the IRS that your payment was sent, you needed to file for the money on your tax return this year. We’ve got full instructions for how to file for your recovery rebate credit here, but basically, you’ll use the 2020 Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR to claim a catch-up payment. However, the last day to file your taxes has passed, so this will only work for those who filed a tax extension.
The tax return instructions include a worksheet to figure out the amount of any recovery rebate credit for which you’re eligible, according to the IRS. If you’re part of a group that doesn’t usually file taxes , you’ll still need to file this year. You should also save your IRS letter — Notice 1444 Your Economic Impact Payment — with your 2020 tax records, as you’ll need it to file the claim.
You can also file for a Recovery Rebate Credit if you didn’t receive the correct amount of money for your child dependents in your first or second check. The same goes for parents of 2020 babies .
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You Have A New Bank Account
Your third stimulus check payment will be directly deposited into your bank account if the IRS has your bank information from:
- Your 2019 or 2020 federal income tax return
- The “Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here” tool used for first-round stimulus payments
- The “Get My Payment” tool, if the information was provided in 2020
- A federal agency that issued benefits to you or
- Federal records of recent payments to or from the government.
Direct deposit is the quickest and easiest method of delivering your payment. However, if you recently closed the bank account that the IRS has on record, then the payment will be delayed. By law, the bank must return the payment to the IRS if the account is inactive or closed. Unfortunately, if you closed your account, there’s no way to provide the IRS with your new bank account information for third stimulus check purposes. As a result, you will either receive a paper check or debit card by mail.
If the IRS sends a paper check or debit card, that will take longer than getting a direct deposit payment because it has to go through the regular mail.
If the IRS doesn’t send a third-round payment at all, then you’ll have to claim the third stimulus check money that you should have received as a Recovery Rebate credit on your 2021 income tax return, which you won’t file until next year.
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Will The Irs Reload A Prior Pre
Some people who received one or both of their first two stimulus payments on a pre-paid debit card may wonder if the IRS will reload that card with the $1,400 for the latest round of payments. The answer is no, the IRS says.
If the IRS now has bank account information for you, it will send the money via direct deposit. If not, it will either issue a check or a pre-paid debit card, but the latter will come in the form of a new card, the tax agency said.
People should look for a white envelope with the return address “Economic Impact Payment Card” accompanied by a U.S. Treasury Department seal. The card says “Visa” on the front, and the issuing bank, MetaBank, on the back.
You Requested An Itin But Havent Received One Yet
Californians who applied for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number by Oct. 15 but didnt get one yet will have an additional four months to file their tax returns and still be considered for a GSS II payment, as well as the Golden State Stimulus I program from earlier this year.
The deadline to file a 2020 return for these individuals is Feb. 15, 2022, according to the state.
More information on Golden State Stimulus payments can be found here.
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Whether To File Another Irs Form
As was the case with the first and second check, if you filed a 2018, 2019 or 2020 tax return or receive government benefits, the IRS should automatically send your third check without you having to do anything.
If, however, you’re a nonfiler, a US citizen or permanent resident, had a gross income in 2019 under $12,200 — or $24,400 as a married couple — and didn’t file a return for 2018 or 2019, you may need to give the IRS a bit of information before it can process your payment. Since the IRS’ Non-Filers tool is now closed, you may need to file for that money on a 2021 tax return in the form of a recovery rebate credit, described above.
Here’s more information about who should file an amended tax form and who shouldn’t.
Receiving your stimulus check money isn’t always easy.
I Got A Payment Status Not Available Message
Many checking on their second stimulus check were seeing a message that said “Payment Status #2 – Not Available.” The IRS has indicated that these individuals will not receive a stimulus check by direct deposit or mail and they will have to file their 2020 tax return to claim their “Recovery Rebate Credit.” See below for instructions on claiming the rebate on your tax return.
These messages have now disappeared and will be replaced by information about the third payment.
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When Will I Get The Recovery Rebate Credit
You will most likely get the Recovery Rebate Credit as part of your tax refunds. If you electronically file your tax return, you will likely receive your refund within 3 weeks. If you mail your return, it can take at least 8 weeks to receive your refund.
Claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit will not delay your tax refund. However, if you dont claim the correct amount of the Recovery Rebate Credit, your refund may be delayed while the IRS corrects the error on your return. The IRS will send you a notice of any changes made to your return.
You can check on the status of your refund using the IRS Check My Refund Status tool.
Individual Taxpayers With Agi Of $80000 Or More Aren’t Eligible
The new stimulus check will begin to phase out after $75,000, per the new “targeted” stimulus plan. If your adjusted gross income, or AGI, is $80,000 or more, you won’t be eligible for a third payment of any amount. However, if you make between $75,000 and $80,000, you could get a portion of the check. You’d receive the full amount if your yearly income is less than $75,000. Here’s how to estimate the stimulus check total you could receive.
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What To Do If You Haven’t Received Your $600 Stimulus Check
by Dana George | Updated July 25, 2021 – First published on Jan. 16, 2021
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that pay us a commission. Its how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts opinions arent influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.
If you’re still waiting on your stimulus check to arrive, here are two things you can do.
On Dec. 21, 2020, Congress passed COVID-19 relief legislation, promising $600 checks to eligible recipients. In an effort to get the money into Americans’ bank accounts quickly, Congress gave the IRS until yesterday, Jan. 15, 2021, to distribute the funds.
If you haven’t received your stimulus check yet, first make sure you meet the criteria. Here’s a breakdown of who should expect to receive $600 checks:
- Individuals who reported an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less on their 2019 tax return.
- Couples filing jointly with an AGI of $150,000 or less.
- Taxpayers filing as head of household with an AGI of $112,500 or less.
- Dependent children 16 and younger.
For those who earned more in 2019, the check’s size gradually decreases by $5 for every $100 earned over the maximum threshold.
You Receive Your Ca Tax Refund By Mail
California began issuing batches of stimulus payments by direct deposit back in late August but only started sending paper checks out by mail earlier this month. As a result, those who typically get their state refund through the mail should expect a delay possibly even through the new year.
Additionally, where you live can also affect when you get the payment, as mailing times are based on the taxpayers last three digits of their ZIP code.
The Franchise Tax Board provided the following timeline of when it expects mailed payments to go out:
Last 3 digits of ZIP code/mailing time frame
- 000-044: Oct. 6 through Oct. 27
- 045-220: Oct. 18 through Nov. 5
- 221-375: Nov. 1 through Nov. 19
- 376-584: Nov. 15 through Dec. 3
- 585-719: Nov. 29 through Dec. 17
- 720-927: Dec. 13 through Dec. 31
- 928-999: Dec. 27 through Jan. 11, 2022
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Still Waiting On Your Stimulus Check
The rampant spread of COVID-19 in the United States has caused a serious financial impact on the U.S. economy, as the stock market plunged amidst job losses and closed businesses. A glimmer of hope, though, has been the recent passing of legislation to help boost the American economy. The stimulus checks, which are part of a $2 trillion CARES act relief package, are set to help Americans who are unemployed or losing income due to COVID-19. Americans are receiving a $1,200 direct deposit or check from the IRS, assuming you meet the eligibility criteria.
Even though millions of Americans have received their payment, there are still many who have yet to see their stimulus check. If you find yourself in this category, there could be many reasons why you dont have your check. We wanted to point out some common reasons why your check may not have arrived and what you can do to make sure it gets to you safely!