Third stimulus check: how will it affect your 2021 tax return? (2024)

The Senate on Wednesday is expected to begin debate on President Joe Biden’s signature $1.9 trillion covid-19 relief package, which includes a third round of Economic Impact Payments, or better known as stimulus checks. The direct payments will be for $1,400 this time and could start showing up in Americans bank accounts as soon as a week after the bill is signed.

There begs the question though, how will this affect your taxes? Americans have until 15 April, 2021 to file their tax return for their income in 2020 with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Just like the previous rounds of stimulus checks, the third direct stimulus payment will be a refundable tax credit called the Recovery Rebate Credit. However, this time round it will be an advance refund payment for your 2021 income-tax filing which you’ll have to do in 2022.

Will I be taxed on the $1,400 stimulus check?

As stated before, the Economic Impact Payments are a refundable tax credit, this means that even if you have zero income you still get the credit as part of a tax refund check. Usually, the IRS waits to see how much you owe in taxes and how much you paid before sending you a check for paying too much in taxes. However, as with the previous two checks Uncle Sam is giving you the money in advance, an early tax refund on your 2021 tax return.

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Can the IRS garnish my stimulus check?

The final version of the bill is not yet available as the legislation is still working its way through Congress. It is expected, like the previous rounds, the IRS will not garnish your payment for back taxes. Nor would it take from your stimulus check if you have other outstanding federal and state debts, say child support arrears or student loan payments overdue, this provision was added in the second round of direct payments. Additionally, if the IRS gave you a larger stimulus check than you were due, you will not have to pay back that money.

That however is not the case with the Recover Rebate Credit. There were several circ*mstances where the IRS sent out the wrong amount or the previous laws excluded groups of possible beneficiaries of the program. Cases in particular include mixed-status families, inmates and dependents of people who receive social security payments.

Didn’t receive an Economic Impact Payment? Although #IRS has issued all first and second Economic Impact Payments, you may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit when you file a 2020 tax return. https://t.co/XLpNHgm2vU #COVIDreliefIRS pic.twitter.com/w3xHlk156S

— IRSnews (@IRSnews) March 2, 2021

Can the IRS garnish my Recovery Rebate Credit?

Any individual who didn’t receive the full amount due to them will have to claim the stimulus money owed to them through their 2020 income-tax filing using the Recovery Rebate Credit. You can see how much you received from the Economic Impact Payments through the IRS Get My Payment tool.

If you still have stimulus money that you didn’t receive but you owe back taxes, or have a delinquent state or federal debt, you may not see all of what is owed to you. Banks and other creditors and debt collectors may be able to take away from your refund, too.

#IRS has an online tool that allows you to check your Economic Impact Payments and details of your federal taxes. See https://t.co/0kt9rysqzn #COVIDreliefIRS pic.twitter.com/UfDS7Aa3kO

— IRSnews (@IRSnews) March 2, 2021

Will this affect the $1,400 third stimulus check?

Depending on when the legislation is passed the IRS will use a filers 2020 or 2019 tax return to determine eligibility for how much they should receive in the third round of payments. With tax season currently in progress, the IRS is processing 2020 tax returns that have been filed but some people may not even get theirs filed before the payments start going out.

If the amount that you receive in the third direct payment is less than you should have received, then it can be expected that you would again have to wait to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit but this time when you file your 2021 income-tax return in 2022. Whether that stimulus money can be garnished will depend on the final bill that President Biden signs.

Third stimulus check: live updates

You can get the latest updates on the proposed third stimulus check, and other mooted aid measures such as the expanded child tax credit, by following our dedicated live blog.

Third stimulus check: how will it affect your 2021 tax return? (2024)

FAQs

Third stimulus check: how will it affect your 2021 tax return? ›

The third stimulus check was an advance payment for the 2021 tax credit in response to COVID-19. If you received the full amount you are eligible for, you won't receive the new Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your tax return in 2022. But if you received less than you are eligible for, you can claim the tax credit.

Does the third stimulus check affect 2021 taxes? ›

The stimulus payments are not taxable on the federal return and are not reported as income. However, you can claim a tax credit if you did not receive the payment.

How did the stimulus checks affect my taxes? ›

You can claim the stimulus payments as a tax credit and get the money as part of your tax refund. The stimulus checks are a federal tax credit, known as the Recovery Rebate Credit. In order to get the Recovery Rebate Credit, you will need to file a tax return.

Do you have to claim stimulus check on 2021 taxes? ›

As a credit, the Recovery Rebate Credit can be claimed when you file your income tax return. However, since the stimulus payments were made in 2020 and 2021, the Recovery Rebate Credit must be claimed on your tax returns for those two years.

What is the $1,400 tax relief credit for 2021? ›

$1,400 per-person checks

People making up to $80,000 will receive partial payments. Those with dependents will receive $1,400 per person, including college students and seniors claimed as dependents.

How will the third stimulus affect my tax refund? ›

The third stimulus check was an advance payment for the 2021 tax credit in response to COVID-19. If you received the full amount you are eligible for, you won't receive the new Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your tax return in 2022. But if you received less than you are eligible for, you can claim the tax credit.

What if I never received my third stimulus check? ›

If an individual hasn't received a third-round payment or any information from the IRS, they should check their eligibility. If they're eligible, they may claim the recovery rebate credit on their 2021 return.

Do stimulus checks affect tax refunds? ›

When you go back and enter the amount you received in stimulus payments, the Credit on line 30 is adjusted to reflect the stimulus amount you received. This is evident in the refund amount. However, the tax on the return is unchanged as the stimulus payment is not taxable on your return.

Is the third stimulus check taxable? ›

None of the three stimulus checks (or Recovery Rebate Credits) are considered income, and therefore aren't taxable. They won't reduce your refund or increase what you owe when you file your taxes this year, or next. They also won't affect your eligibility for any federal government assistance or benefits.

Does a stimulus check count as income? ›

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ruled that most taxpayers who received state stimulus payments in the 2022 tax year won't owe taxes on those payments. The key word here is “most.” Normally, you must report state income tax refunds on your federal return if you itemize your deductions.

Do stimulus checks need to be reported on tax return? ›

If you received a relief payment or stimulus check from your state last year, good news: You don't need to report it on your federal tax return.

What if I never received my stimulus check 2021? ›

You can start a payment trace by calling the IRS at 800-919-9835. Or mail or fax a completed Form 3911, Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund, to the IRS. For more information about payment tracing go to IRS Payment Trace.

Is it too late to claim stimulus money? ›

If you haven't received your $3,200 in stimulus checks, you can still claim the full amounts by filing your 2020 and 2021 tax returns by May 17th, 2024.

What is the tax credit relief for 2021? ›

The 2021 Child Tax Credit is up to $3,600 for each qualifying child. Eligible families, including families in Puerto Rico, who don't owe taxes to the IRS can claim the credit through April 15, 2025, by filing a federal tax return—even if they don't normally file and have little or no income.

What is the 3rd recovery rebate credit 2021? ›

The third round of Economic Impact Payments, including the plus-up payments, were advance payments of the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit claimed on a 2021 tax return. It was issued starting in March 2021 and continued through December 2021.

What is the stimulus payment for 2021 pandemic? ›

How much is the third Economic Impact Payment? Those eligible will automatically receive an Economic Impact Payment of up to $1,400 for individuals or $2,800 for married couples, plus $1,400 for each dependent.

Is the third stimulus check based on 2021 agi? ›

Third Economic Impact Payments were based on your 2019 or 2020 tax information. Factors that may affect eligibility for the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit include: Income change: Some people may have received less than the full third Economic Impact Payment because their adjusted gross income was too high.

How much was the third stimulus check in 2021? ›

The third round of stimulus payments, those authorized by the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, differs from the earlier payments in several respects: The third stimulus payment will be larger for most people. Most families will get $1,400 per person, including all dependents claimed on their tax return.

What if I accidentally claimed stimulus check on taxes 2021? ›

You don't need to amend, and you won't be in any trouble. The IRS will automatically detect and correct it before issuing your refund. Expect this to introduce additional delay in processing. The IRS strongly encourages people to have all the information they need to file an accurate return to avoid processing delays.

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