Recovery Rebates for Individuals

April 26, 2020

Eligible individuals will receive a refundable tax credit against their 2020 taxable income equal to $1,200 ($2,400 for joint filers) plus $500 per qualifying child. The refund is determined based on the taxpayer’s 2020 income tax return but is advanced to taxpayers based on their most recent income tax filing – the 2018 or 2019 tax return, as appropriate.

The credit begins to phase out if the individual’s AGI exceeds $75,000 ($150,000 for joint filers and $112,500 for head of household filers), and is reduced by an amount equal to 5% of the amount in which the taxpayer’s AGI exceeds these thresholds. As a result, individuals with no qualifying children completely phase out of the credit if their AGI exceeds $99,000 ($198,000 for joint filers). Individuals with two qualifying children completely phase out of the credit if their AGI exceeds $119,000 ($218,000 for joint filers).

If an eligible individual’s 2020 income is higher than the 2018 or 2019 income used to determine the rebate payment, the eligible individual will not be required to pay back any excess rebate. However, if the eligible individual’s 2020 income is lower than the 2018 or 2019 income used to determine the rebate payment such that the individual should have received a larger rebate, the eligible individual will be able to claim an additional credit generally equal to the difference of what was refunded and any additional eligible amount when they file their 2020 income tax return.

Individuals who have not filed a tax return in 2018 or 2019 may still receive an automatic advance based on their social security benefit statements (Form SSA-1099) or social security equivalent benefit statement (Form RRB-1099). Individuals who are otherwise not required to file and are not receiving social security benefits are still eligible for the rebate but will be required to file a tax return to claim the benefit.

The CARES Act provides that the IRS will make automatic payments to individuals who have previously electronically filed their income tax returns using direct deposit banking information provided on a return any time after January 1, 2018.

A qualifying child (i) is a child, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, or stepsister, or a descendent of any of them, (ii) under age 17, (iii) who has not provided more than half of their own support, (iv) has lived with the taxpayer for more than half of the year and (v) who has not filed a joint return (other than only for a claim for refund) with the individual’s spouse for the taxable year beginning in the calendar year in which the taxable year of the taxpayer begins.

Insights: Individuals between the ages of 17 and 24 are ineligible to be claimed as a qualifying child and may be unable to claim their own independent rebate if they are eligible dependents on their parents’ tax return. Eligible dependents include children under the age of 19 or full-time students under the age of 24 who do not provide more than half of their own support and who live with the taxpayer for more than half the year.

IRS Launches "Get My Payment" Tool

The IRS has launched its "Get My Payment" tool, which allows taxpayers to check the status of their economic impact payment. The tool provides information about a taxpayer's payment status, payment type, and whether the IRS needs more information, such as a bank account and routing number.

To use the tool, taxpayers will need to enter their name, Social Security number, date of birth, and address. If a bank account is not on file, the taxpayer can enter that information after verifying the AGI and refund amount (or amount owed) on his or her most recently filed tax return. The "Get My Payment" tool can be accessed at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment.

Individuals who are not required to file a 2018 or 2019 tax return can enter their payment information at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here