How Does That Work
Technically, the money is an advance of a refundable credit on your 2020 return. A refundable credit is a tax benefit you can take advantage of even if you do not owe any tax. If you qualify to claim it, any money that isnt needed to pay down your tax liability is refunded to you. Basically, the stimulus payments are advance refunds based on your 2020 income.
If youre confused, thats understandable it is confusing. Obviously, no one can be sure how much youre going to earn in 2020. Thats why the IRS is basing how much youre due off prior year tax returns. When you file your 2020 return, the IRS will compare what you received this year for the credit with what you qualify for based on your 2020 income.
If you should have received a payment and didnt, or if you should have received more than you did, you will receive additional money. If the numbers on your 2020 tax return suggest you got more than you should have, you wont have to pay it back. Considering most peoples incomes dont flucutate too much from year to year, most everyone should receive the right amount the first go-around.
What About People Who Are On Social Security Or Who Dont Earn An Income
If you are on Social Security, you still qualify to receive a stimulus payment as long as your total income does not exceed the income thresholds. That said, if you have a dependent, the IRS will not have a record of that information. Therefore, your payment will likely not include the additional $500 for the dependent.
Important: On April 1, 2020, the Treasury Department announced individuals on Social Security DO NOT need to file a tax return to receive their stimulus payments. The IRS will refer to Form SSA-1099 and Form RRB-1099 to generate the payment. Recipients will receive the money via direct deposit or by check, like they normally receive their benefits. This includes senior citizens, Social Security recipients and railroad retirees who are not otherwise required to file a tax return. See the official information at the IRS website. And read the Treasury News Release on the topic.
If you are not on Social Security but also do not earn an income, you are required to file a return to get your stimulus payment. Use TaxActs Stimulus Registration to get registered.
When Can I Expect To Receive My Payment
The IRS began rolling out Economic Impact Payments in April 2020. For most people, you wont have to do anything the payment will be directly deposited into your bank account or sent to you by check or prepaid debit card. Be aware, however, that if its sent by check, it might take a little longer.
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Heres How The Coronavirus Stimulus Checks Will Be Cut
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 24: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin leaves the offices of Minority … Leader Charles Schumer as negotiations continue into the night on a $2 trillion economic stimulus in response to the coronavirus pandemic at the U.S. Capitol March 24, 2020 in Washington, DC. After days of tense negotiations — and Democrats twice blocking the nearly $2 trillion package — the Senate and Treasury Department appear to have reached important compromises on legislation to shore up the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Topline: The Senate passed the largest spending bill in its history late Wednesday night after six days of back and forth a $2 trillion package that injects financial aid into all parts of the American economy with one of the core tenets of the aid package direct cash payments to working Americans and heres how that will work:
What to watch for: How soon you will get your check. The Trump administration is hoping to get the checks out within two weeks of the bill becoming law. However, it could take longer. In 2008, when Congress also sent money to Americans, it took two months for the checks to arrive. CNN reports it will likely take until May before checks are sent out.
The House isnt expected to vote on the bill until Friday.
How Are Americans Using Stimulus Checks
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York says that households are spending a smaller percentage of their stimulus checks and saving more. The that households set aside just under 25% of their third-round payments for consumption. This share fell from just over 29% of first-round payments reported in June 2020 and almost 26% of second-round payments reported in January 2021.
The table below is based on all three SCE surveys and breaks down the average percentage of stimulus payments spent, saved and used to pay off debt:
| New York Fed SCE Breakdown of Stimulus Check Spending | |
| Payment Round | |
| 37.4% | 33.7% |
The New York Fed also says that households expect to spend an average 13% of the third stimulus check on essential items and an average 8% on non-essential items.
For a comparison, preliminary data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau from shows that the majority of stimulus recipients are almost three times more likely to use checks to pay down debt than add to their savings.
An earlier showed that the majority of recipients who got the first stimulus check spent their payment on household expenses. Adults with incomes between $75,000 and $99,999 told the Census that they would most likely pay off debt or add to their savings. While adults making less than $25,000 said they would use their stimulus to pay for expenses.
For those households that spent their first stimulus checks, the study says:
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How Much Will I Get
Again, the higher you are above the new threshold for the third stimulus, the smaller your payout will be this time around.
Pickering ran these examples for me.
Take a single filer who has an adjusted gross income of $78,000. That single filer could expect to see the third Economic Impact Payment turn out to be around $560, a 60% reduction from the maximum $1,400 payout.
Someone who is filing as head of household with a college-age dependent and $116,00 in adjusted gross income could expect an Economic Impact Payment of around $1,493 a tiny bit more than half of the $2,800 maximum.
How New Qualifications Could Factor In
In addition to supporting larger stimulus checks, Biden also wants to include two previously excluded groups: dependents of any age and all families with mixed-status citizenship. Combined, that could potentially extend stimulus funds to nearly 20 million people who previously might not have been counted toward the family total. The Senate is also considering restrictions around stimulus checks for undocumented immigrants.
When it comes to divvying up stimulus check money, there’s more than one option.
If passed, the outcome would most likely be a larger stimulus check for families that previously qualified , and some mixed-status families qualifying for a new check for the first time. In all cases, families would have to meet all other eligibility requirements — like an income limit — to receive a future stimulus check.
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The Economic Impact Payment Doesnt Affect Eligibility For Income
The Economic Impact Payment is a tax credit. That means it shouldnt be counted as income and shouldnt affect the beneficiarys eligibility for income-tested benefits. As long as the payment is spent down within 12 months of the date it was received, it also wont count against resource limits for Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, SSI, SNAP, or Public Housing benefits.
What Makes This Round Of Checks Different
This round of checks would offer $1,400 payments for both child dependents and non-child dependents unlike the first two rounds of stimulus, which paid out only for those under the age of 16. So those who may have been skipped in previous rounds, like college students or others claimed as a dependent for tax purposes, might qualify for a check.
But there are some limitations. You would only qualify for the full $1,400 if you make up to $75,000 a year — after that, you would receive a smaller stimulus check, with a hard cut-off at $80,000 for individuals or $160,000 for married couples filing jointly.
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What If You Never Got The Last Payment But Believe You’re Eligible
Most people receive the payments automatically, but there are many who missed out — for a variety of reasons. An estimated 8 million eligible people didn’t get the first round of payments that were delivered last year.
Many of these people have very low incomes and are not normally required to file tax returns. Last year, the IRS set up an online portal where they could register for the money. It’s not yet clear whether the agency will open up the portal again for the third round of payments.
People who have moved or changed bank accounts since the last time they filed tax returns may have also missed out.
Those who were due money during the first two rounds of payments and did not receive it can claim it as a tax credit, known as the Recovery Rebate Credit, on their 2020 tax returns.
When Will I Get My Check And How Can I Track It
The $900 billion stimulus bill required the IRS to send all second stimulus checks by January 15, 2021. Eligible recipients who did not get a payment by the cutoff date now have to claim their money as a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2020 tax return .
The Treasury Department estimates that eight million eligible recipients may not have gotten their first or second stimulus checks. And President Biden signed an executive order on January 22 tasking the department with the equitable and effective delivery of direct payments to all of those qualifying recipients.
The IRS has made stimulus payments via direct deposit, paper check and economic impact payment card. The first direct deposit payments arrived as early as December 29, 2020. Paper checks started getting mailed on December 30, 2020, and the IRS has sent out approximately eight million prepaid debit cards loaded with the federal stimulus payments. You can follow up on the status of both your first and second checks by using the Get My Payment portal.
People who get Social Security retirement benefits, Social Security survivor benefits, Social Security disability benefits, Supplemental Security Income , Railroad Retirement benefits and VA benefits were able to receive second stimulus checks via direct deposit as long as they had their bank account on file with the IRS.
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Can The Government Reduce Or Garnish My Economic Impact Payment
Your Economic Impact Payment will not be subject to most types of federal offset or federal garnishment as a result of defaulted student loans or tax debt. However, the payments are still subject to garnishment if youre behind on child support.
The payments may also still be subject to State or local government garnishment and also to court-ordered garnishments.
When Is The Bill Going To Pass
RELATED: Senate debate on COVID bill, $1,400 checks may start today
The Senate is expected to begin working out plans for the bill by the end of the first week of March, including negotiations over certain language and stipulations.
But Democrats are urging for the bill to be passed before March 14, which is when certain weekly unemployment aid is set to expire. The new relief package would increase those weekly benefits from $300 to $400 and extend payments through September, in the hopes of preventing a lapse in aid.
Democrats are using a process called budget reconciliation to pass the legislation. It’s a fancy term that means they would only a simple majority in the Senate for approval instead of the usual 60 votes required to overcome a potential filibuster.
The Verify team explained the whole process and how it might allow Democrats to pass the COVID-19 relief on their own, even though Senate conversations might derail and lengthen the process, here.
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When Will Stimulus Payments Be Sent
Your stimulus payment may already be on its wayor you may have already received it. On March 12, the IRS announced that the $1,400 stimulus check will reach Americans within the week.
The first payments were sent by direct deposit and were scheduled to arrive on March 17. The IRS will continue to send additional batches of direct deposits, as well as mailing checks and debit cards, over the next several weeks.
Second Coronavirus Stimulus Checks Possible
At public events in Kentucky on Monday, McConnell said the next stimulus package could include another round of stimulus checks. However, he said the new checks would be aimed at low-income Americans.
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When asked if the next coronavirus bill would include direct payments, McConnell said it “could well.” McConnells words should come as a relief to many as previously he opposed the second coronavirus stimulus checks.
Further, he said that the people who make about $40,000 or less annually had been hit the hardest, and many of these work in the hospitality industry.
The hospitality industry, as all of you know, just got rim-racked hotels, restaurants and so that could well be a part of it,” McConnell said.
Considering McConnells comments, it wouldnt be a surprise if the cut-off income for the next stimulus checks is $40,000.
McConnell acknowledged that the country needs one last boost, but expressed doubt if it would pass unanimously.
“The atmosphere has become more political than it was in March, but I think we will do something, he said.
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How To File For A Stimulus Check
You don’t have to file a tax return to get a stimulus check, but the payment might not be for the correct amount if you dont. If you haven’t filed a tax return, the IRS will use other information it or other federal agencies may have on file to figure out what to send you.
The IRS will automatically send payments to people who didn’t file a return but receive Social Security retirement, survivor or disability benefits , Railroad Retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income or Veterans Affairs benefits.
You Got The Last Stimulus Check Will You Get This One
Not necessarily. While the same people who received the full amounts in the previous two rounds of stimulus payments will likely get the full amount this time, the checks will phase out faster now — cutting off people at a lower income level.
The first round, which was worth up to $1,200, excluded individuals who earned at least $99,000, head of household filers with one child who earned more than $136,500 and married couples without children earning more than $198,000 — but families earning a little more were still eligible if they had children. About 160 million payments were delivered, with 94% of families receiving the money.
The second round, which was worth up to $600, also phased out a little faster because the full amount was smaller. It phased out entirely at $87,000 for single filers without children and $174,000 for those married filing jointly without children. Again, those earning a little more were still eligible if they had children. About 158 million payments went out, with 92% of families receiving them.
The payments have been based on a taxpayer’s most recent tax return. So those who have filed new returns since last March could fall into or out of eligibility if their incomes changed.
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Aoc: Coronavirus Stimulus Checks For Workers Cut Off The Backs Of Taxpaying Immigrants
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez doubled-down on her fierce opposition to the Coronavirus stimulus package Thursday claiming any checks to American workers will be cut off the backs of taxpaying immigrants.
To clarify, $1200 checks are ONLY going to some w/social sec numbers, NOT immigrants w/ tax IDs .
Thanks to GOP, these checks will be cut off the backs of *taxpaying immigrants,* who get nothing. Many are essential workers who pay more taxes than Amazon.
Wall St gets $4T, posted AOC on Twitter.
To clarify, $1200 checks are ONLY going to some w/social sec numbers, NOT immigrants w/ tax IDs .
Thanks to GOP, these checks will be cut off the backs of *taxpaying immigrants,* who get nothing. Many are essential workers who pay more taxes than Amazon.
Wall St gets $4T
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
What Trump + Senate GOP have done is hold hospitals, working people, and the vulnerable hostage so they could get in $500 billion in corporate welfare.
Without the Wall St giveaway, GOP refuses to fund hospitals & unemployment. Its inhumane.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
What Trump + Senate GOP have done is hold hospitals, working people, and the vulnerable hostage so they could get in $500 billion in corporate welfare. Without the Wall St giveaway, GOP refuses to fund hospitals & unemployment. Its inhumane, she added.