Which Tax Return Is Used For My Third Stimulus Check
The IRS uses 2019 or 2020 tax returns to determine eligibility for your third stimulus check. You should note that if your income fell in the 2020 tax year, filing your tax return earlier could help you qualify for a bigger third stimulus check. The new stimulus plan targets lower income ranges to exclude higher-earning taxpayers from getting a payment.
As we pointed out before, individuals making under $75,000 get the maximum stimulus payment of $1,400 . But payments are capped at $80,000 for single filers and $160,000 for couples. So filing at the beginning of the tax season with a lower income may help you qualify for a bigger check. But, if your income went up in tax year 2020, then you may want to delay filing so that eligibility is determined by your lower 2019 income.
You might also want to file early if the size of your family increased in 2020. The new stimulus plan includes a child tax credit that pays up to $3,600 for each qualifying child under 6 years old, and $3,000 for every child between ages 6 and 17. This means that if you became a parent during the tax year, you could get an additional payment by claiming your child as a dependent earlier.
SmartAssets child tax credit calculator will help you figure out how much you could get for each child.
You can use SmartAssets tax return calculator to figure out your 2021 tax refund or tax bill.
Still Living Paycheck To Paycheck
While the stimulus checks and now-expired Child Tax Credit provided direct aid to families, “most federal aid programs miss the mark, and only reach a fraction of the intended recipients,” noted Greg Nasif, political director of Humanity Forward.
He added, “They barely functioned even before the pandemic and they leave parents with a full-time job navigating bureaucratic hurdles.” In his view, providing “speedy, efficient, direct cash support” is the best option for helping struggling families.
Many people never applied for unemployment benefits because they didn’t think they were eligible, while others may have given up due to long waits and other issues.
Even those who qualified for aid didn’t always receive it. Only 4 in 10 jobless workers actually received unemployment aid, according to a from economist Eliza Forsythe.
Is There A Credit For Children
Yes, youll receive an additional $1,400 for each dependent, regardless of their age. That includes not only children but adults who count as dependents. Thats one key difference between the third check and the previous two: The first two payments excluded anyone over age 17 who was listed as a dependent, which meant lots of college students and disabled people didnt qualify.
However, the phaseout of the dependent credit applies at the same rate as the payments for people who file their own tax returns. Whether you have one dependent or 10, if you earn more than the $80,000, $120,000 or $160,000 thresholds listed above, you dont get a dependent credit.
Also Check: How Can I Check On My Stimulus Check
Americans Who Did Not Previously Qualify For The Third Stimulus Check May Be Able To Claim The Direct Payment In The Tax Return They File This Year
Americans who missed out on a third-stimulus-check payment in 2021 may be able to claim the money in their tax return this year.
Sent out as part of President Bidens $1.9tn American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law in March 2021, the third stimulus check saw eligible US taxpayers receive up to $1,400 each, with households getting an additional $1,400 per dependent.
Is There Anything I Need To Do To Get A Check

As Voxs Fabiola Cineas and Ella Nilsen explained after Congress passed its previous round of direct payments, most people dont need to do anything to get a stimulus check. If you filed taxes in 2019 or 2020, meet the eligibility requirements, and included your direct deposit information, the payment should show up in your account in the coming weeks.
If your direct deposit information isnt on file with the IRS yet, you can still provide those details using IRSs Get My Payment tool before the latest wave of payments starts going out.
Will you support Voxs explanatory journalism?
Millions turn to Vox to understand whats happening in the news. Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment: to empower through understanding. Financial contributions from our readers are a critical part of supporting our resource-intensive work and help us keep our journalism free for all. Please consider making a contribution to Vox today to help us keep our work free for all.
Don’t Miss: How To Change Account For Stimulus Check
Advance Child Tax Credit
Even if you dont pay any taxes, you may qualify for a refund of the CTC.
The CTC was expanded under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for tax year 2021 only. If you are eligible, you should have begun receiving advance Child Tax Credit payments on July 15. The payments will continue monthly through December 2021. Under ARPA, families are eligible to receive:
- Up to $3,000 per qualifying child between ages 6 and 17
- Up to $3,600 per qualifying child under age 6
The Internal Revenue Service began sending out letters in early June to more than 36 million families who may be eligible for the monthly payments. Most families do not need to do anything to get their payments, as long as theyve filed their 2020 or 2019 tax return. Learn more about the letter and how it can help you determine your eligibility.
I Filed My Taxes In February But I Wasnt In The First Payment Round Whats Up With That
The way the IRS determines who gets their money when is a mystery to everyone but the IRS. Were not sure why some people got their payments right away, why some people have to wait, and why some people arent getting answers through the Get My Payment tool yet.
If you filed your 2020 taxes, one thing to keep in mind is that the IRS may not have processed your return yet. The IRS is still working through a backlog of 2019 tax returns due to the shutdown during the pandemic last year, along with processing 2020 returns.
You May Like: Will Seniors Get A Third Stimulus Check
How Likely Is A Fourth Stimulus Check
Don’t hold your breath, according to Wall Street analysts.
For one, the Biden administration has focused on infrastructure spending to spark economic growth, betting that an investment in roads, trains and other direct investments will help get people back to work and spur the ongoing recovery.
Secondly, economists have pointed fingers at relief efforts such as the three rounds of stimulus checks for contributing to inflation. Because Americans had cash in their pockets, they boosted spending on goods such as furniture, cars and electronics. Combine that with the supply-chain crunch, and the result was sharply higher inflation, according to economists.
Without new stimulus efforts on the horizon, it’s likely that inflation could moderate in 2022, according to Brad McMillan, the chief investment officer at Commonwealth Financial Network. “One cause of inflation has been an explosion of demand driven by federal stimulus,” he noted in a December report. “But that stimulus has now ended.”
He added, “Yes, we will continue to face inflation and supply problems, but they are moderating and will keep doing so.”
Qualifying For Recovery Rebate Credit
Should you qualify for the Recovery Rebate Credit, you are able to claim the child on your 2021 tax return, which will be completed in 2022.
Those who qualify for an additional payment via the American Rescue Plan will be able to have the credit arrive as part of their 2021 refund.
In order to qualify, dependents must be under 19 at the end of the year unless they are a student, or any age but are permanently disabled. In addition, the dependent must be a child, brother, sister, foster child, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother or half-sister, or a descendent of any of them.
There are some income requirements that must be met to receive the Recovery Rebate Credit payment, though, as taxpayers can receive the full amount if they have an adjusted gross income under $75,000, or an income of $150,000 and are married and filing jointly.
Recommended Reading: What’s In The Stimulus Bill
Heres Who Gets A $1400 Stimulus Check In 2022
Back in March, President Joe Biden signed into law a massive economic aid bill including a $1,400 stimulus check for more than 100 million households. All signs indicate that third stimulus check will be the final one sent out during this crisis.
But this doesn’t mean the IRS is done sending payments: Some taxpayers will be entitled to a check when they file their 2021 tax return next year.
Who gets the check in 2022? Eligible parents who welcomed a newborn into their family during the 2021 calendar year. The $1,400 payments sent out earlier this year were based on 2020 tax returnswhich, of course, didn’t include 2021 newborns. Both Fortuneand Insider confirmed earlier this year that a stimulus check would go out to eligible parents of 2021 newborns once they file their tax return next year.
Of course, parents would still need to meet the income requirements. For single filers, that means making no more than $75,000 per year in adjusted gross income, while couples filing jointly could still get the full $1,400 check for each of their 2021 newborns if their income is less than $150,000. Taxpayers earning above those levels would see their checks reduced, however, and they’d be completely phased out if they’re a single-filer earning above $80,000 or a couple filing jointly earning above $160,000.
What About A $15 An Hour Minimum Wage
The finding by Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough means Democrats face an overwhelmingly uphill battle to boost the minimum wage this year because of solid Republican opposition. Their proposal would raise the federal minimum gradually to $15 hourly by 2025, well above the $7.25 floor in place since 2009.
President Joe Biden was disappointed in the outcome but respected the parliamentarian’s ruling, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. The Senate has a long tradition of obeying the parliamentarian’s decisions with few exceptions, a history that is revered by traditionalists like Biden, a 36-year Senate veteran.
He will work with leaders in Congress to determine the best path forward because no one in this country should work full time and live in poverty, Psaki said.
Democrats are pushing the massive coronavirus relief measure through Congress under special rules that will let them avoid a Senate filibuster by Republicans, a tactic that Democrats would need an unattainable 60 votes to defeat.
But those same Senate rules prohibit provisions with only an incidental impact on the federal budget because they are chiefly driven by other policy purposes. MacDonough said the minimum wage provision didn’t pass that test, according to aides who described her decision on the condition of anonymity because it hadn’t been released.
You May Like: Do I Get A Stimulus Check 2021
What Tax Year Is Used To Determine Eligibility For A Payment
Your 2019 or 2020 tax returnwhichever is most recentwill be used to calculate your payment eligibility and amount.
On April 1, the IRS announced that new weekly payment batches include supplemental payments for these people. As of late May, more than 7 million plus-up payments have been issued.
You dont have to do anything additional if this applies to you check Get My Payment for your status.
What Tax Year Will Payments Be Based On

Your payment will most likely be based on your 2020 income if youve already filed your tax return. If you havent filed yet or the IRS hasnt accepted your return, your check may be based on your 2019 return.
If you earned more in 2020 than in 2019, you could get more stimulus money if you delay filing. However, if your income dropped significantly or you had a child in 2020, youd want to file ASAP to get the most out of this round of stimulus payments. You could also be eligible for more stimulus money from the first two checks based on your 2020 return.
You May Like: Have Not Received Third Stimulus Check
Eligibility For A ‘plus
You can estimate how much money the IRS owes your household for the third stimulus check. Just make sure to triple-check that you meet the qualifications, including the income limits.
Because of the overlap with tax season 2020, many people may receive some, but not all, of their allotted amount. If your income changed in 2020, in some cases, the IRS may owe you more money than you received if the income figure used to calculate your payment from your tax returns in 2018 or 2019 is less in 2020. Likewise, if you now have a new dependent, such as a new baby, you may be owed more money.
The IRS is automatically sending “plus-up payments” to make up the difference. If you don’t get one, you may need to claim the missing money another way later in 2021 or even in 2022, since tax season is officially over now.
Child Tax Credit: December End
Some families received another form of stimulus aid when the IRS in July deposited the first of six monthly cash payments into bank accounts of parents who qualify for the Child Tax Credit . Families on average received $423 in their first CTC payment, according to an analysis of Census data from the left-leaning advocacy group Economic Security Project.
Eligible families received up to $1,800 in cash through December, with the money parceled out in equal installments over the six months from July through December. The aid was due to the expanded CTC, which is part of President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan.
Families who qualify received $300 per month for each child under 6 and $250 for children between 6 to 17 years old. Several families that spoke to CBS MoneyWatch said the extra money would go toward child care, back-to-school supplies and other essentials.
While progressives and some Democrats urged lawmakers to continue the enhanced CTC, it appears stalled at the moment. That means families won’t receive a CTC payment in January or beyond.
Read Also: Will There Be A Third Stimulus Check In 2021
$1400 Stimulus Check Deadline Is Days Away See If You Get One
The stimulus check-filled year of 2021 is about to come to a close, with just four days before we turn the page on the calendar and the whole picture along these lines changes completely. For now, there will be no more monthly child tax credit payments in 2022. Although, taxpayers will get to claim a stimulus-related tax break when they file their federal tax return as soon as next month. On that score, the IRS is prepping a big mailout of letters that youll need to use in order to do so. And the tax agency is also racing to finish a final mailout of a specific kind of stimulus check. Its called a plus-up payment, and the last ones are going out before the end of this week.
Are We Getting Another Stimulus Check In 2021
Whether we get another stimulus check in 2021 depends on how much momentum the proposals for more checks gain.
There are still some people who’ve not yet received the third stimulus check, but we’ve got a handy guide for what to do if you’re missing your stimulus check payment. It’s worth checking if you’re eligible for most recent stimulus check as it’s worth up to $1,400 per person.
The IRS has reported that taxpayers whose direct-deposit information is on file should have seen their payments reach their bank accounts in April. Those who are waiting on paper checks and debit cards can expect to receive their funds in the coming weeks.
If you have received the third stimulus check and feel it’s too low, then take a look at our guide to the stimulus check calculator as that can show you what your own eligibility looks like. Keep in mind that there are a few factors that will affect the amount you are due or have received.
Also Check: How Will I Get My Stimulus
When Should I Receive The Stimulus Check
For those who have e-filed tax returns with the IRS in the past or otherwise provided the IRS with their direct deposit information, the IRS started to direct-deposit stimulus money last weekend.
Other individuals will receive their payments by mail. The IRS will start mailing some checks in mid-March. If you received the first or second stimulus check by direct deposit, there’s no guarantee you’ll receive the third check by direct deposit, especially if you filed your tax return after your first or second stimulus payment and didn’t use direct deposit for your tax refund.
When Will Your Bank Post The Stimulus Check
It varies. Check your bank’s website for details or scroll through this Reddit thread to see anecdotal data. Here’s a sample of what some of the major financial institutions have said about their direct deposit dates for the third stimulus.
Ally: “We dont know when payments will be sent to customers accounts. When the payment is received, it will be posted to their account and the funds will be available.”
Bank of America: “The Internal Revenue Service has stated that payments will be distributed to eligible individuals over multiple weeks.”
Capital One: “Funds from Economic Impact Payments made through direct deposit will be available for customers to access on the effective date as long as the account is open and there are no restrictions on the account.”
Cash App: “Cash App customers with account and routing numbers on file with the IRS began receiving a third set of stimulus payments from the U.S. Treasury Department on March 12th.”
Chase: “We expect most of the electronic payments to be available as soon as Wednesday, March 17, 2021. Please go to the IRS site for the latest information.”
Fifth Third Bank: “We expect ACH stimulus deposits to start as soon as March 17. We will be providing the stimulus payments as they are provided to us from the IRS.”
H& R Block: “All stimulus payments to the H& R Block Emerald Prepaid Mastercard® will be processed as they are received. This first batch will be deposited on clients Emerald Cards by March 17.”
Don’t Miss: Have All Stimulus Checks Been Sent