Forget $1,400, Are You in Line for a $7,000 Stimulus Check?

Forget $1,400, Are You in Line for a $7,000 Stimulus Check?

Let’s say you qualify for the maximum amount based on your AGI, and that you’re a family of two adult joint filers with one dependent. In this scenario, you would be eligible to receive a total of $4,200. With two dependents, the check would rise to $5,600, with three dependents $7,000, and so on. Having five dependents would net you close to $10,000.

 

Even though the Internal Revenue Service already has sent out a hundred twenty-seven million coronavirus relief checks—totaling roughly $750 billion—you still might be one of the unlucky individuals who are left to wait patiently.

If that is indeed you, take a moment to see if you even qualify for the payments, as fewer taxpayers will receive checks this time around under President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan. And check to see exactly how much you’re in line for—it could be way more than the typical $1,400 check. Know that many Americans have already received funds of $5,600 or even $7,000.

 

Keep in mind that individuals who earn as much as $75,000 in adjusted gross income (AGI), or couples making $150,000—in addition to their children or adult dependents—qualify for the full $1,400 per individual. Single parents with at least one dependent who earn $112,500 or less also get the full amount. Families in which some members have different citizenship and immigration classifications are eligible for a payment, if at least one person has a Social Security number.

The payments, however, phase out much more quickly than in previous rounds—an individual with an income of $80,000, or a couple with $160,000, will receive nothing.

If you are indeed eligible to receive a stimulus check based on your AGI, you can calculate what you should be getting here. According to the details of the American Rescue Plan, the maximum payout all depends on how many dependents you have.

Let’s say you qualify for the maximum amount based on your AGI, and that you’re a family of two adult joint filers with one dependent. In this scenario, you would be eligible to receive a total of $4,200. With two dependents, the check would rise to $5,600, with three dependents $7,000, and so on. Having five dependents would net you close to $10,000.

Also, note that if you earned more than the third check stimulus income limit for your 2020 tax year, and you already used your 2019 tax year to claim the stimulus payment, the IRS will not mandate that you pay that back. The payment is also not taxed, so you don’t have to report it as part of your annual taxable income.

As for when you can expect to see the cash land in your bank account, similar to the previous payments, direct deposit recipients would be the first to get the money, followed by those receiving physical checks, which can potentially take weeks to arrive by traditional mail, and EIP cards, a prepaid debit card that one must activate online before using.

If you’re still seeking a more concrete date on when the payment will arrive, know that you can always log on to the IRS “Get My Payment” tool at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment. To use it, you will just need to enter your full Social Security or tax ID number, date of birth, street address, and ZIP code.

However, be aware that some individuals will receive a message that says, “Payment Status Not Available.” “If you get this message, either we have not yet processed your payment, or you are not eligible for a payment,” the IRS says. “We will continue to send the 2021 Economic Impact Payment to eligible individuals throughout 2021.”

Ethen Kim Lieser is a Minneapolis-based Science and Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek, and Arirang TV. Follow or contact him on LinkedIn.