The IRS has said it will issue information and details on the distribution of this third payment once the bill is passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden. The House is expected to vote on the measure Tuesday, and Biden has said he will move swiftly to distribute the relief.
Based on the last two rounds of stimulus payments, here are answers to some common questions.
Will I have to do anything to get a stimulus payment?
At this point, the IRS will probably issue advance payments either based on your 2019 federal return or your 2020 return if you have filed one already.
If your income was too high for a payment based on your adjusted gross income for 2019 but you think you may be eligible based on your circumstances from last year, you should file your tax return as soon as you can.
For example, you may have lost your job last year. You may have had a child, which would make you eligible for a dependent payment of $1,400.
However, the IRS has cautioned that you shouldn’t file before you have all the information you need to submit an accurate return.
How much do I have to earn before I’m ineligible for a stimulus payment?
It’s all about your AGI, which is your gross income minus certain adjustments.
This time around, the AGI phaseout happens sooner than in the previous stimulus packages. So you may have received money in the first and second round but won’t get a check in this latest stimulus package.
If you file as an individual and your adjusted gross income is more than $80,000, you aren’t entitled to a stimulus check. The cutoff is $120,000 for individuals filing as head of household. Couples earning more than $160,000 will phase out of a payment.
Don’t assume you won’t qualify. If you aren’t sure of your AGI, you’ll find it on Line 11 on Form 1040 and 1040-SR for the 2020 tax year. It’s on Line 8b on your 2019 federal tax return.
How will I get my money?
In previous rounds, the IRS issued payments either by direct deposit, a mailed check or prepaid debit card.
However, just because you got a direct deposit previously doesn’t mean the payment will be delivered the same way for this third round. You may get a check. It’s also possible the IRS may send payments on a prepaid debit card.
Is there an age cutoff for stimulus payments for dependents?
In the previous rounds of stimulus relief, parents could get a payment only for dependents who were younger than 17.
Now there’s good news for many parents who complained about the age cutoff.
Eligible taxpayers will get relief for older dependents. For example, dependent college students, disabled adult children, or an adult parent will qualify for the $1,400 dependent payment.
But the money will be issued to the taxpayer, not the dependent.
However, self-supporting college students or young adults living on their own who can’t be claimed as a dependent may be eligible for their own stimulus payment up to $1,400.