If you still haven’t gotten your California inflation relief check, there are a few reasons why. If you got a Golden State Stimulus, you should double-check how you got it so you know when to expect your money.
The California Franchise Tax Board told The Bee that some eligible taxpayers have forgotten how they got their stimulus money or have changed their banking information, which will make it hard for them to keep track of when they got it.
Direct deposit payments are still being sent out, and they will be done by the middle of November. After that, debit cards will be sent to all other eligible taxpayers. Andrew LePage, a spokesman for the tax board, told The Bee in an email that inflation relief checks are being sent out as planned and there are no delays.
Here are the general requirements for the payment and the conditions for getting a direct deposit or a debit card in the mail.
Middle-Class Tax Refund Qualifications
From what the tax board says:
California plans to send ‘inflation relief’ payments of up to $1,050. Will other states follow? https://t.co/ucCAteu6ED
— CNBC (@CNBC) June 28, 2022
- You sent in your tax return for 2020 by October 15, 2021.
- Meet the California requirements for your adjusted gross income They couldn’t be counted as a dependent.
- You lived in California for at least six months of the 2020 tax year Are a resident of California at the time the payment is made
California Inflation Relief Direct Deposits
- On Oct. 25, the first round of direct deposits was done.
- On October 28, the second set of direct deposits started.
- LePage said that eligible taxpayers can expect their deposits to be in their accounts by Nov. 22.
- From the Middle-Class Tax Refund website, here are some important things you need to do to get a direct deposit: File your 2020 tax return electronically Received a Golden State Stimulus as a direct deposit
California Inflation Relief Debit Cards
- People who qualify for a Middle-Class Tax Refund but don’t get a direct deposit will get their money on a debit card.
- People who got money from both Golden State Stimulus one and two started getting payments on debit cards on October 24.
READ MORE: Lloyd Doggett, a U.S. Representative, Comments on the Inflation Reduction Act
- People who changed their bank information after filing their 2020 tax returns will start getting debit cards in the mail on December 17.
- The state hopes to mail out all debit cards by January 14. Here are some of the main reasons why the tax board says you’ll get a debit card instead of a direct deposit:
- You got a check for the Golden State Stimulus.
- You got a check for your tax refund, no matter how you filed. You filed your taxes electronically for 2020 but have since changed your banking information.
- You got an advance payment from a tax service provider or paid your tax preparer with your tax refund. You filed a paper tax return. You still owe money.
What to Do if You Think You Should Have Gotten a Direct Deposit Sooner
If you meet the above criteria for a direct deposit but don’t get it by November 22, LePage suggests two things:
It’s official: Most Californians will get one-time “inflation relief” payments.
Here’s who is eligible for stimulus payments and when they’ll arrive:https://t.co/ENDNhABM7d
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) July 2, 2022
- Check your 2020 CA tax return to make sure you’re still eligible.
- Call 800-542-9332 to reach the Middle-Class Tax Refund customer service line.
How Much Money Can You Expect?
The payments will range from $200 to $1,050, depending on how much money you make, how you file your taxes, and how many people depend on you. You’ll need to make sure you qualify first, though.
READ MORE: The IRS Raises Tax Brackets, Standard Deductions, and Makes Other Changes to Account for Inflation!
Those who file as a single person and make less than $75,000 will get a $350 payment. People who file jointly and make less than $150,000 can expect about twice as much. People with dependents can expect a bit more.
Here are the steps to figure out how much you’ll get.
Who Can Get Help With the Cost of Living?
First of all, you’ll have to live in California when the payments are sent. You must have lived in California for at least six months in the year 2020.
As was said above, the payments are based on how much money people will make in 2020. Couples who make more than $500,000 and single people who make more than $250,000 will not get any payments.
The bill called these stimulus payments “Better for Families Refunds,” but the tax board is calling them “Middle Class Tax Refunds,” even though couples making up to $500,000 in 2020 adjusted gross income and individuals making up to $250,000 are eligible. https://t.co/VvuP82QBO1
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) July 3, 2022
To qualify, you also had to file taxes in 2020. College students face an extra challenge: you couldn’t have been claimed as a dependent during that tax year.
Here’s how to make sure you’re eligible.
Can I Find Out Where My Inflation Relief Check From California is?
No, that’s the short answer. But you can probably make your timeline a little more specific.
If you filed your taxes online and got the Golden State Stimulus, you may have already gotten your relief. If you don’t meet these two requirements, you’ll have to wait longer.
READ MORE: Lloyd Doggett, a U.S. Representative, Comments on the Inflation Reduction Act
Remember that debit cards are being given out in the order of last names, so if your name starts with A, B, or C, you won’t have to wait as long as those whose names start with X, Y, or Z.
And if you’ve changed your bank information since you filed your 2020 tax return, you’ll have to wait a long time. Those people will be the last ones to get paid.
