Issue III: Economic Impact Payments (“Stimulus Checks”) & COVID-19

A. If you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or qualifying resident alien(link is external), and you make less than $75,000, you are eligible for a first economic impact payment of $1,200, a second economic impact payment of $600, and a third economic impact payment of $1,400.

A. The IRS has delivered over 165 million payments, but payments are still being sent out(link is external) weekly. If you filed a 2020 tax return and the IRS processed it, you can use the IRS’s Get My Payment(link is external) tool to check the status of your third economic impact payment.  

Most filers who received their tax refunds through direct deposit will get their economic impact payment through direct deposit into the same bank account. 

While you can check the status of your payment for the third stimulus check, the first and second economic impact payments no longer appear on the IRS’s Get My Payment tool.

If you didn't get a first and second economic impact payment or got less than the full amount, you may be eligible to claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit(link is external). To claim that credit, you must file a 2020 tax return, even if you aren't required to file.

A. The IRS will mail you a check(link is external) or an economic impact card(link is external) if direct deposit is unavailable.

A. First, find out(link is external) if you should file a return, and do so if needed. In order to be eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit(link is external), you must file a 2020 tax return, even if you do not usually file a tax return.

A. No! If anyone tries to get you to pay for an economic impact payment, they are a scammer. Beware of scammers(link is external) online and on the phone.

A. No! The IRS will not call you. If someone calls and asks for personal information, they are almost certainly a scammer.

A. Check the status(link is external) of your payment and make sure it has been received. 

Additionally, check your credit reports(link is external) for free and make sure there are no unauthorized accounts or information there, since those may be signs that your identity has been stolen.

A. No! Governor Newsom announced(link is external) that debt collectors will not be able to garnish Californians’ economic impact payments, and that payments that were garnished have to be returned. 

You do not have to take any action to protect your stimulus payment. The protection is retroactive, so any money taken by debt collectors from the stimulus payments must be returned. There are exceptions for those who owe money in spousal support, child support, or owe for victim restitution. Read the full text of the Executive Order here (PDF file)(link is external)