Who’s Eligible For The Payment
Those eligible for the money could include people whose tax situation changed in 2021, but the change was not reflected in their latest tax return.
For example, parents who welcomed a child in 2021 may be eligible for the $1,400 payments as long as they meet income requirements.
Eligibility for the third round of stimulus checks, issued earlier this year as part of President Joe Biden‘s American Rescue Plan, was based on a family’s last tax return filed.
Since babies born in 2021 were not factored in, the $1,400 checks will be applied to their parent or guardian’s 2021 tax return.
Others may be eligible for more money as well due to a change in income or the addition of a dependent.
Payments begin to phase out for people who make more than those income limits.
They completely phase out for individuals who make more than $80,000 and couples who make more than $160,000.
The number of families still owed a $1,400 stimulus check is not yet known but it is estimated to be in the millions.
The figure wont be known until the total number of births for 2021 is revealed.
If I Owe Child Support Will I Be Notified That My Tax Return Is Going To Be Applied To My Child Support Arrears
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Yes.You were sent a noticewhenyour case wasinitiallysubmitted for federal tax refund offset.The federal government shouldsend an offset notice toyouwhenyour stimulus rebate paymenthasactuallybeenintercepted. The noticewill tell youthatyourtax returnhas been applied toyour child support debtand to contactthe Child Support Divisionifyoubelieve this was done in error.
Special Reminder For Those Who Don’t Normally File A Tax Return
People who don’t normally file a tax return and don’t receive federal benefits may qualify for stimulus payments. This includes those without a permanent address, an income or bank account.
If you’re eligible and didn’t get a first, second or third Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts, you may be eligible for a Recovery Rebate Credit, but you’ll need to file a tax return.
Don’t Miss: When Was 3rd Stimulus Check Mailed
Who Is Eligible For The Recovery Rebate Credit
According to the IRS, most people who were eligible for the third round of payments have already received their stimulus checks but there are a few situations why someone might not have received it or received the wrong amount. For example:
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You’re claiming a new dependent in 2021 .
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Your marital status changed in 2021.
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Your adjusted gross income from 2019 or 2020 was high enough to make you ineligible for a stimulus check, but your 2021 AGI is now lower and within the qualifying threshold.
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You did not have a Social Security number but received one by the 2021 tax deadline.
What If Both My Spouse And I Have Itins And Our Children Have Ssns Can Our Family Get The Third Stimulus Check For Our Children
Yes. For the third stimulus check, any household member that has an SSN qualifies for a payment.
This is different than the first and second stimulus check, where at least one tax filer must have an SSN for the household to claim the stimulus checks. That adult with the SSN and any qualifying children with SSNs will get the stimulus checks.
Read Also: What’s Happening With The Stimulus Checks
Are Adult Dependents Getting Third Stimulus Checks
The new stimulus plan expands eligibility to adult dependents, including college students, elderly relatives and disabled adults.
The text of the plan redefines the term dependent according to section 152 of the tax code, which includes both qualifying children and adults: Section 152 provides that the term dependent means a qualifying child ) or a qualifying relative ).
While the plan pays out $1,400 for each qualifying dependent, families should keep in mind that the targeted lower income ranges exclude them if they earn over $160,000.
For reference, the second stimulus checks provided additional $600 payments for qualifying dependents under the age of 17. So a couple filing jointly with three eligible children could get a maximum second payment of $3,000 .
Under the first and second rounds of stimulus checks, children and adult dependents over the age limit could not get an additional payment, and they did not qualify for a stimulus check of their own either.
With the new stimulus plan, however, both joint filers and heads of household get an additional $1,400 payment for each dependent, regardless of age. The table below breaks down the third stimulus checks for heads of household with one dependent:
| Stimulus Checks for Heads of Household & 1 Dependent |
| AGI |
| $120,000 and up | $0 |
How To Claim Your Missing Third Stimulus Payment On Your 2021 Tax Return
Youâll need to request any missing third stimulus payments on your 2021 tax return by claiming the Recovery Rebate Tax Credit.
This is the case if you received a partial amount or didnât previously qualify for the third stimulus payment.
Letâs say youâre single and your income for the 2020 and 2019 tax years exceeds the threshold . However, you lost your job in 2021, so your income drastically decreased. You can now claim the Recovery Rebate Tax Credit since your earnings fell below the threshold.
Families that added dependents may also be able to claim the credit.
In addition, a few lingering taxpayers who file taxes using ITINs may not have received payments for their eligible dependents who have Social Security numbers.
You need to complete the Recovery Rebate Tax Credit worksheet and submit it along with your 2021 tax return. If you use a tax software program, it should guide you through the process. Keep in mind, the IRS predicted a frustrating and slow tax season this year, so file your return as soon as possible.
Before completing the worksheet, you must know the amount of any third stimulus payments received for you, your spouse, and any dependents. The worksheet will also request your adjusted gross income for the year to determine your eligibility.
The IRS started mailing Letter 6475 to taxpayers in Januaryâthe letter confirms the total amount of the third stimulus payments received for the 2021 tax year.
Recommended Reading: When Do We Get The Next Stimulus Checks
The Irs Tool Might Say Your Payment Was Sent To You
If the IRS’ online tool says the agency has issued your stimulus money, but you have no record of it in your bank account and it never arrived in your mailbox, you may need to take one of these steps, including possibly filing a stimulus check payment trace. You’ll need to have the letter the IRS sent you.
Third Payments Differed From Previous Economic Impact Payments
The third payments differed from the earlier payments in several respects:
- Income phaseout amounts changed. Payments were reduced for individuals with adjusted gross income of more than $75,000 . The reduced payments ended at $80,000 for individuals and $160,000 for married filing jointly. People above these levels did not receive any payment.
- Payment amounts are different. Most families received $1,400 per person, including all dependents claimed on their tax return. Typically, this means a single person with no dependents received $1,400, while married filers with two dependents received $5,600.
- Qualifying dependents expanded. Unlike the first two payments, the third payment was not restricted to children under 17. Eligible individuals received a payment based on all of their qualifying dependents claimed on their return, including older relatives like college students, adults with disabilities, parents and grandparents.
Also Check: What Was The 2021 Stimulus Check
Banks And Creditors Might Be Able To Take Your Stimulus Checks In This Circumstance
With the first stimulus check, private banks and creditors were able to seize your payment to cover an outstanding debt. However, some states, such as California, issued orders forbidding banks and creditors from garnishing your stimulus check. With the second stimulus check, your payment was protected from bank garnishment and from private creditors and debt collectors, according to the text of the law. The third check is also supposed to be protected from bank garnishment, though not from private creditors and debt collectors.
However, there’s one major caveat here. Individual banks can decide whether they want to use your stimulus direct deposit payment to cover overdraft fees, according to a New York Times report. This is because, for most people, their stimulus check is deposited into the same bank account where they also receive tax refunds.
Although for the second check large US banks including Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo said they would temporarily zero out their customers’ negative balances so that they could access their stimulus money, some regional and community banks still garnished that money to pay overdraft fees, or were considering customer requests on a case-by-case basis, according to the Times. If this has happened to you, you can try contacting your bank to ask for a temporary overdraft waiver, but it may not be granted. This is likely to be the case for a third check as well, Watson said.
What Is The Recovery Rebate Credit
The recovery rebate credit is a refundable tax credit that can be claimed on your 2021 return if you did not receive your third stimulus check or received the wrong amount.
An important thing to understand about the third stimulus payment is that it was technically an advance on the 2021 tax credit. Because the IRS did not yet have access to your 2021 tax information when the advance payments were sent out, the agency relied on the most recent information they had on file for you to determine how much to send you based on that year’s income, number of dependents and other qualifying information.
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Third Stimulus Check Calculator
President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act on March 11, 2021. Provisions in the bill authorized a third round of stimulus checks worth $1,400 for each eligible person , plus an additional $1,400 for each dependent. However, as with the first- and second-round payments, the third-round stimulus checks were reduced or eliminated for people with an income above a certain amount.
If you didn’t receive a third stimulus check, or didn’t receive the full amount, you can get any money you’re entitled to by claiming the recovery rebate tax credit on your 2021 tax return. If you’re wondering if you qualify for the credit, comparing what you should have received to what you actually received is a good place to start .
To see how large your third stimulus payment should have been, answer the three questions in the calculator below and we’ll give you a customized estimate.
What To Do About A Missing Or Stolen Eip Debit Card
At least 5 million people will receive their third stimulus check on a prepaid debit card called the Economic Impact Payment Card, instead of a paper check. For the third payment, the EIP card arrives in a white envelope sent from “Economic Impact Payment Card.” The letter will have a US Department of the Treasury seal.
The card has the Visa name on the front and the issuing bank, MetaBank®, N.A., on the back. Information included with the EIP Card explains that this is your Economic Impact Payment. If you receive an EIP Card, visit EIPcard.com for more information.
If you’ve misplaced or thrown away your card, the EIP card service has an FAQ on what to do if your card is lost or stolen. You can also call 800-240-8100 to request a replacement. It’s free, according to a spokesperson for the Treasury Department. To request a new card, press option 2 when prompted.
However, the EIP card website says, “Your Card will be deactivated to prevent anyone from using it and a new replacement Card will be ordered. Fees may apply.” We recommend calling the above number for a lost or stolen card and speaking to a representative. If you may have lost or thrown away a paper check, read the mail fraud section below.
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When Will The Third Stimulus Check Be Issued
The government started sending the third stimulus checks on March 12, 2021. The IRS continues to send third stimulus checks as people submit their information to the IRS either by filing a 2020 tax return or using GetCTC.org. The deadline to use GetCTC.org is November 15, 2021.
If you have your banking information on file, the IRS sent your payment via direct deposit. Otherwise, you will receive your payment as a check or debit card via mail. Mailed checks and debit cards may take longer to deliver.
If you dont fall into any of these categories, youll have to wait to receive your third stimulus check. You will need to file a 2020 federal tax return to get the third stimulus check or use GetCTC.org if you dont have a filing requirement.
You can also get the first and second stimulus check as the Recovery Rebate Credit on your tax return or GetCTC.org if you are eligible.
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.
Read Also: Irs Fourth Stimulus Checks Update
What If I Am Married To Someone Who Owes Child Support Will My Tax Return Be Applied To The Child Support Arrears They May Owe
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Yes,unless you are eligible for relief. If youdo not owe child support butyouare married tosomeonewhoowes child support,you may need to file an Injured Spouse Claim and Allocation -Form 8379
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In some instances, the IRS offsets a portion of the payment sent to a spouse who filed an injured spouse claim if it has been offset by the non-injured spouses past-due child support. The FAQ on the IRS stimulus FAQ www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center website states: The IRS is aware that in some instances a portion of the payment sent to a spouse who filed an injured spouse claim with his or her 2019 tax return has been offset by the non-injured spouses past-due child support. The IRS is working with the Bureau of the Fiscal Service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement, to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. If you filed an injured spouse claim with your return and are impacted by this issue, you do not need to take any action. The injured spouse will receive their unpaid half of the total payment when the issue is resolved.
Still No Third Stimulus Check Track Your Money Now With This Online Tool
If you’re still missing your third payment, use the IRS Get My Payment tool. It’s easy to use and free for everyone.
Clifford Colby
Managing Editor
Clifford is a managing editor at CNET. He spent a handful of years at Peachpit Press, editing books on everything from the first iPhone to Python. He also worked at a handful of now-dead computer magazines, including MacWEEK and MacUser. Unrelated, he roots for the Oakland A’s.
Shelby Brown
Staff Writer
Shelby Brown is a writer for CNET’s services and software team. She covers tips and tricks for apps and devices, as well as Apple Arcade news.
If your third stimulus check hasn’t arrived yet, you’re likely becoming concerned about what’s happened to it. But don’t get too worried yet — start by checking your bank account because it may have a pending deposit.Iit’s also possible the check is stuck en route in the mail. Once you figure out your payment status, you may find that you’re owed a “plus-up” supplemental payment if the IRS didn’t send you enough stimulus money.
However, there could be information you need to act on if that’s the case, the IRS online tracking tool will let you know. It’ll also show if you need to file a payment trace for that missing third check. The tool isn’t perfect, but it’s a great way to learn your payment status. It won’t tell you how much money to expect — not everyone gets $1,400 — but you can use our stimulus calculator to estimate that amount.
Recommended Reading: H& r Block Stimulus Tracker
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.
