The second stimulus check, officially known as the Economic Impact Payment 2, was a one-time payment of up to $600 for individuals and $1,200 for married couples filing jointly. The payments were issued in December 2020 and January 2021, and most eligible Americans received the full amount. However, some individuals reported receiving only half of the expected payment.
There are several reasons why you may have only received half of your second stimulus check:
1. Reduced Income:
The amount of the second stimulus check was based on your income in 2019. If your income was higher in 2019 than it was in 2018, you may have received a smaller payment. This is because the IRS used your 2019 tax return to determine your eligibility and payment amount.
2. Shared Custody:
If you have shared custody of a child, you may have only received half of the payment because the other parent claimed the child as a dependent on their tax return. The IRS generally sends the full payment to the parent who claims the child as a dependent.
3. Offset for Debts:
The second stimulus check could be offset to pay certain debts, such as back taxes, child support, or other federal or state debts. If you have any outstanding debts, the IRS may have used your stimulus payment to cover those debts.
4. Bank Account Issues:
If you provided the IRS with an incorrect or closed bank account number, your payment may have been returned to the IRS. In this case, you will need to claim the payment as a Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 tax return.
5. Filing Status:
Your filing status can also affect the amount of your stimulus payment. If you filed as “married filing separately” in 2019, you may have received a smaller payment than if you had filed as “married filing jointly.”
What to Do if You Only Received Half of Your Stimulus Check:
If you believe you should have received the full amount of your second stimulus check, you can take the following steps:
1. Check Your Eligibility:
Review the IRS eligibility requirements to ensure that you meet all of the criteria. You can find the eligibility requirements on the IRS website.
2. Contact the IRS:
If you believe you are eligible for the full amount of the payment, you can contact the IRS at 1-800-919-9835. The IRS can help you determine why you only received half of the payment and provide you with instructions on how to claim the remaining amount.
3. Claim the Recovery Rebate Credit:
If you did not receive the full amount of your second stimulus check, you can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 tax return. The Recovery Rebate Credit is a tax credit that allows you to receive the remaining amount of your stimulus payment. You can claim the credit on line 30 of the 2020 Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR.
If you only received half of your second stimulus check, there are several possible reasons. It is important to review your eligibility and contact the IRS if you believe you should have received the full amount. You can also claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 tax return to receive the remaining amount of your payment.
Why are people only getting half of their stimulus checks?
FAQ
Why did I not get the second stimulus?
What was the 2nd stimulus check amount?
Why was my stimulus only $700?
Why did I only get $600 stimulus check?
Will I get a second stimulus check?
Taxpayers who’ve already checked the status of their stimulus check with the IRS Get My Payment tool and received the “Payment Status #2 – Not Available” message will not automatically receive a second check. Instead, they must wait until they file their 2020 tax returns to get the payment.
What happens if I don’t get a second stimulus payment?
The second stimulus payments will be advance payments of the recovery rebate credit just like the first stimulus payments under the CARES Act. If you are eligible and do not get a payment or it is less than expected, you may be able to claim it on your 2020 tax return as the Recovery Rebate Credit.
What if I didn’t get a stimulus check?
The IRS also sent out notices ( Notice 1444-A and Notice 1444-B) to eligible recipients breaking down the payment amounts for the first two stimulus checks. These letters explain how payments were delivered and what to do if you did not get one.
How do I know if my stimulus payment has been received?
The IRS is the only source for when and how your stimulus payment will be distributed. You can check the status of both your first and second payments by using the Get My Payment tool, available in English and Spanish on IRS.gov. Why Haven’t I Received My Stimulus Payment Yet?