California Stimulus Checks Sent Today: What You Should Know About $ 600 and $ 1,100 Payments

While a fourth dunning check is not on the table for Americans this year, California is not withholding additional relief aid for its residents. Today, a batch of Golden State Stimulus II payments arrived in bank accounts across California. The first round – amounting to 600,000 payments – took place on August 27; today’s lot is much larger, with at least 2 million Californians benefiting from it.

About two-thirds of California taxpayers are entitled to a payment of $ 600, and some eligible families have received an additional $ 500. These state-reserved checks are part of the $ 100 billion “California Return Plan” to provide immediate relief to families and businesses that have been hit hardest by the pandemic. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office called it “the largest state tax refund in American history.”

Read on to find out if you’re eligible for a Golden State Stimulus II check, what you need to do to get your money back, and when your check might arrive. Also, here is everything you need to know about the Child tax credit 2021, which provides the vast majority of families across the United States with advance monthly checks to help cover basic expenses and necessities.

Am I eligible for the $ 600 or $ 1,100 stimulus payment?

The Golden State Stimulus II payments are different from the Golden State Stimulus I payments made earlier this year. GSS I payments – a one-time check for $ 600 or $ 1,200 – were made to those who typically earned less than $ 30,000 and received the state earned income tax credit, or CalEITC, or to those who declared their taxes with an individual tax identification. Number or ITIN.

GSS II has been extended so that more Californians qualify. You are entitled to a payment of $ 600 if you were a California resident for more than half of the 2020 tax year (you must still be a California resident on the date the payment is issued). You must also meet the following requirements:

• You filed your 2020 income tax returns before October 15, 2021.
• Your California Adjusted Gross Income, or CA AGI, was $ 75,000 or less for the 2020 tax year.
• You cannot be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer.

If you are not eligible for GSS II, see if you may qualify for GSS I. Californians who received the previous GSS I payment may be eligible for a GSS II check of $ 500 or $ 1,000. alone if they declared a child or an eligible parent as a dependent on their 2020 tax return.

Besides those who have already received GSS I and have no dependents, there are others who are excluded from GSS II payments. Californians whose income is derived exclusively from other benefits, such as Social Security, CalWorks, unemployment, or state disability, are not eligible. For more information, see the Franchise Tax Board help page.

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How do I know the amount of my payment?

For most qualifying Californians, you do not have to do anything to receive the GSS II other than filing your 2020 income tax return. If you still need to file a return, you can find different reporting options online at paper or in person.

If you want to see if you qualify or estimate your GSS II amount, you can go to the Franchise Tax Board estimator. If you have a Social Security number and meet all of the GSS II requirements above, you should receive $ 600 if you had no dependents and $ 1,100 if you claimed at least one dependent. . Note that some of the payment amounts change depending on whether you received the GSS I, have an SSN or ITIN, and are married and filing separately.

When will my Golden State Stimulus II payment be released?

California stimulus payments are made twice a month, or about every two weeks, although some may come earlier or later. Most direct payments will be issued before October 15th. The last payment was sent on September 17th.

If you filed a tax return after August 20, you may need to wait at least 45 days for the return to be processed and for a check to be issued.

Will my check arrive in the mail or will it be deposited directly into my bank?

Those who qualify and have already set up direct deposit when filing their 2020 income tax return can expect electronic payment. Those who have not set up direct deposit with the state will receive a paper check.

Could my stimulus check be seized or cleared to cover any debt I owe?

According to the Franchise Tax Board, the state stimulus payment is not subject to garnishment for child support or spousal support, for example, nor to compensation for debts owed to agencies. of State.

Here’s everything we know about the other recovery aid it might come your way. And here’s more on the expiration of unemployment benefits during a pandemic.