The second round of Gov.Gavin Newsom’s Golden State Stimulus checks were mailed last year, but this tax season may be your last to receive any money that may be missing from that disbursement.
Most of the $100 billion stimulus package was sent out to qualifying citizens. Although California residents should have submitted their 2020 tax return by Oct.15, 2021, there is a final chance for some to receive payment.
Parents of a child born in 2021 – or parents and guardians who added a new qualifying child to their family in 2021 – did not receive a third-round Economic Impact Payment for that child and may be eligible to receive up to $1,400 for the child by claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit.
While some payments of the Economic Impact Payments from 2021 may still be in the mail, including, supplemental payments for people who earlier this year received payments based on their 2019 tax returns but are eligible for a new or larger payment based on their recently processed 2020 tax returns, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
According to the IRS, over 175 million third-round payments totaling $400 billion were issued to individuals and families in the country through Dec.31.
Individuals must claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 income tax return to get this money. On Jan. 24, the IRS began accepting 2021 income tax returns, but they will not automatically calculate in the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit.
The IRS reported that most other eligible people received the full amount of their credit in advance, and don't need to include any information about this payment when they file their 2021 tax return.
Additional payments called "Plus-Up-Payments" were issued to those who initially received a third-round Economic Impact Payment based on their 2019 tax return, and were eligible for a larger amount based on information on their 2020 tax return.
Third-round Economic Impact Payments were advance payments of the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit. In late January, the IRS began issuing Letter 6475, “Your Third Economic Impact Payment”, to payment recipients, which helps recipients determine if they are entitled to and should claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on the 2021 tax returns when they file in 2022, according to the IRS.
Those using tax software should be prompted with questions about stimulus payments that will assist in claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit if necessary.
