California stimulus check qualifications for married couples

Qualifying Californians will begin receiving relief payments of up to $1,050 this week to soften the blow of inflation. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $308 billion state budget in June to deliver direct tax refunds to 23 million Californians as they struggle with inflation, which jumped 8.3% year over year. 

“California’s budget addresses the state’s most pressing needs and prioritizes getting dollars back into the pockets of millions of Californians who are grappling with global inflation and rising prices of everything from gas to groceries,” said Gov. Newsom, Senate President Pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins, and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon in a joint statement. 

The one-time payment, known as the Middle Class Tax Refund (MCTR), will be automatically delivered to residents starting Oct. 7, 2022, through Jan. 15, 2023, according to the Newsom administration. It anticipates that 95% of all payments will be issued before the end of the year. 

But not everyone will get the same payment, as the amount varies based on tax filing status and income. 

Married or joint filers get:

• $700 if they make up to $150,000

• $500 if they make between $150,001 and $250,000

• $400 if they make between $250,001 and $500,000

Head of household or qualifying widow(er) filers get:

• $350 if they make up to $150,000

• $250 if they make between $150,001 and $250,000

• $200 if they make between $250,001 and $500,000

Single or separate filers get:

• $350 if they make up to $75,000

• $250 if they make between $75,001 and $125,000
  
• $200 if they make between $125,001 and $250,000

Those who earn above these income limits will not receive a payment. Filers receive one additional payment if they have at least one dependent: an additional $350 for the bottom income bracket; $250 for the middle income bracket; and $200 for the top income bracket. They do not receive more money for each additional dependent. For instance, a married couple earning less than $100,000 would get $1,050 regardless of whether they have one or two children. 

The goal of the stimulus is to offer a tax refund to the millions of working Californians. The package also includes a suspension of the state sales tax on diesel and additional funds to help residents afford their rent and utility bills. 

“In the face of growing economic uncertainty, this budget invests in California’s values while further filling the state’s budget reserves and building in triggers for future state spending to ensure budget stability for years to come,” the joint statement reads.  

For detailed information on eligibility, payment schedules, and payment information visit the California Franchise Tax Board website or call (800) 542-9332.

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More Californians can expect another $600 or $1,100 stimulus check, thanks to the second phase of the Golden State Stimulus.

Originally signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in February, the second iteration of the program will make funds available to low- and middle-income Californians as the state economy continues to recover from the effects of the lockdowns and restrictions that were lifted on June 15. The first phase of the Golden State Stimulus plan made either $600 or $1,200 available to eligible Californians. This second stimulus package, approved by Newsom on Monday, will help bridge the gaps for families in California still struggling to recover.

Separate from the stimulus checks made available through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, these funds are only available to eligible Californians. Two-thirds of Californians are expected to qualify. Read on to see if you’re one of them.

Who’s eligible

To receive the Golden State Stimulus I, you must:

• File your 2020 taxes by Oct. 15
• Either:
  
  • Be a CalEITC recipient
  • Or make less than $75,000 per year and file with an ITIN
• Have lived in California for more than half the tax year of 2020
• Be a California resident when the stimulus check is issued
• Not be eligible to be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s taxes

You can qualify for CalEITC, or earned income tax credit, if you:

• Made at least $30,000 in taxable income in 2020
• Are at least 18 or have a qualifying child
• Didn’t file as “married” or “registered domestic partner filing separate”

Earned income that is considered by the state includes wages noted on a W-2, income made from self-employment, tips received, and any other wages subject to California withholding.

An ITIN, or individual taxpayer identification number, allows undocumented individuals to file their taxes without a Social Security number. It doesn’t allow them any federal benefits, but the Golden State Stimulus does allow for ITIN filers to receive support.

For undocumented people, to be able to receive the Golden State Stimulus, you must have filed your taxes with your ITIN. On average, an ITIN application takes up to seven weeks to process, according to the IRS website. But applications are backlogged, according to Sasha Feldstein, economic justice policy manager at the California Immigrant Policy Center, meaning that the process could take even longer.

Golden State Stimulus II expands eligibility and includes those who may not have received funds the first time.

To receive the funds under the second phase of the plan, you must:

• File your 2020 taxes by Oct. 15
• Have a California adjusted gross income (CA AGI) of $1 to $75,000
• Have wages of $75,000 or less
• Have lived in California for more than half the tax year of 2020
• Be a California resident when the stimulus check is issued
• Not be eligible to be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s taxes

If you’re not eligible for the second stimulus, you may still be eligible for the first.

How much will I get?

There are four amounts you may be eligible for from Golden State Stimulus II: $500, $600, $1,000 or $1,100.

The $500 is available to:

• Those who qualified for the first stimulus and claimed a dependent on their 2020 taxes
• Eligible families of those without proper legal documentation

You may get $600 if you:

• Didn’t qualify for the first stimulus and did not claim a dependent on your 2020 taxes

And you may get the $1,100 if you:

• Did not qualify for the first stimulus and claimed more than one dependent on you 2020 taxes

The $1,000 amount is only for ITIN filers who qualified for the first stimulus and claimed a dependent on their 2020 taxes. Those filing with a Social Security number are eligible for more funds.

Payments will be made either by mailed check or direct deposit, depending on how you requested your refund on your 2020 tax returns.

Who isn’t eligible

There are two caveats with the second iteration of the Golden State Stimulus. For those who made less than $30,000 and received a state stimulus check earlier this year and did not claim a dependent, a second payment is not coming. Likewise, ITIN filers without dependents do not qualify this time around.

When to expect payment

Distribution of both phases has depended on when you’ve filed your 2020 taxes.

For those who filed their tax returns between Jan. 1 and March 1, distribution of stimulus payments began after April 15. And for those who filed between March 2 and April 23, distribution began after May 1.

Those who have waited to file until after April 23 have had to wait up to 45 days after filing for a direct deposit or 60 days for a mailed check.

To make sure you don’t miss out on your stimulus, make sure you file before Oct. 15.

Make sure you’re not missing out

With every two out of three Californians set to receive a check, you want to make sure you’re not missing out on what you may be owed.

Remember: To receive a stimulus check, whether from the federal government or the state, you have to file your taxes.

You may not normally file taxes because of a multitude of reasons. There are several free online resources including GetYourRefund or MyFreeTaxes for easy filing. The IRS programs Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly, for those over 60, provide in-person services.

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