How do i check on my golden state stimulus

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Who Will Get a California Stimulus Check?
Direct Deposit vs. Debit Card Stimulus Payments from California
When California Stimulus Payments Are Being Sent
Are the California Stimulus Payments Taxable?
How do I track my California stimulus check?
When can I expect my 2nd Golden State stimulus check?
How do I check my second Golden State stimulus?
How long does it take to receive Golden State stimulus?

In February, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that qualifying Californian's will receive a $600 Golden State stimulus check. The stimulus package was signed by Newsom on February 23, and a total of 5.7 million Californian's will be eligible according to the governor's office. $600 payments have started to go out to Californians on April 15th from The California Franchise Tax Board and will be received in the same way you received your tax return. For eligibility on the Golden State Stimulus click here! If eligible, the speed at which you will receive your payment depends on when you filed your taxes. The state must receive your 2020 taxes before the payment is sent and the deadline to send your taxes for the one-time payment is October 15, 2021. If your taxes were filed between January 1st and March 1st you can expect the Golden State Stimulus after April 15th. If you filed after March 2nd it can take up to 45 days to receive payment depending on the method of delivery.

The California Franchise Tax Board has a wait-time availability on their website for the Golden State Stimulus. Eligible residents can contact The California Franchise Tax Board by talking with a representative on their website or by calling 800-852-5711.

Who Will Get a California Stimulus Check?

You qualify for a California stimulus check payment if you:

Filed a 2020 California income tax return by October 15, 2021;
Reported an adjusted gross income on your 2020 California tax return of $250,000 or less if you filed as a single person or married person filing a separate tax return, or $500,000 or less for anyone else;
Weren't claimed as a dependent on anyone else's 2020 tax return;
Were a California resident for at least six months in 2020; and
Are a California resident on the date your payment is issued.

Use the California Franchise Tax Board's handy online tool (opens in new tab) to check your eligibility and get an estimate of how much money you should get.

Direct Deposit vs. Debit Card Stimulus Payments from California

If you filed your 2020 California tax return electronically and received a California tax refund by direct deposit, then you'll generally receive your stimulus payment by direct deposit, too. You can also expect a direct deposit payment if you previously received a Golden State Stimulus (GSS) payment in 2021 or early this year via that payment method.

Most other people who are eligible for a payment will receive a debit card in the mail for the appropriate amount. You will also get a debit card stimulus payment if you received a 2020 California tax refund by direct deposit but have changed banks or your bank account number since then. People who received an advance payment from a tax service provider or paid a tax preparer's fee with a tax refund will also get a debit card in the mail.

If you get a debit card in the mail, you can activate the card online (opens in new tab) or by calling 1-800-240-0223.

When California Stimulus Payments Are Being Sent

Direct deposit payments to people who previously received GSS direct deposit payments first began on October 7. The FTB sent those payments through October 25. For people who didn't previously receive a GSS payment via direct deposit, but who otherwise qualify for direct deposit stimulus payments now, payments began again on October 28 and ran through November 14.

According to the FTB, direct deposit payments typically show up in your bank account within three to five business days from the issue date. However, that estimate may vary on a bank-by-bank basis. The FTB expected to issue approximately 90% of all direct deposit stimulus payments by the end of October 2022.

Debit cards will take longer to distribute. The FTB's plan is to send cards in batches, generally depending on whether you previously received a GSS and your last name. According to the schedule, eligible people who previously received a GSS payment via debit card with a last name beginning with A to E were issued a California stimulus check debit card between October 24 and November 5, 2022. If you're last name begins with a letter from F to M, your card was issued between November 6 and 19. Previous GSS debit card recipients with last names beginning with N to V will be issued a stimulus debit card between November 20 and December 3, while people with last names starting with W to Z will have to wait until December 4 to 10.

There's a separate schedule for people who didn't previously receive a GSS debit card but are slated to receive one for their California stimulus payment. If your last name begins with A to K, your stimulus debit card will be issued between December 5 and 17. Payments will go out from December 19 to December 31 if your last name is in the L to Z range.

If you're getting a debit card because you changed your bank or bank account since filing your 2020 California income tax return, then your California stimulus payment debit card will be issued between December 17, 2022, and January 14, 2023.

It can take up to two weeks from the expected issue date before you actually receive your debit card in the mail. Also note that the FTB will mail a debit card to the latest address it has on file, which is usually the address on your most recent California tax return. So, if you recently moved, let the FTB know where you're now living. You can edit your mailing information through the MyFTB portal (opens in new tab) or contact the agency through its other official channels (opens in new tab). However, be aware may take longer to process your stimulus payment if you had a change of address.

Are the California Stimulus Payments Taxable?

If you receive a California stimulus payment this year, either by direct deposit or debit card, it won't be considered taxable income on the California income tax return you'll file next year. That's according to the California FTB.

However, it's not clear at this point if it will be taxed on your federal tax return. As the Los Angeles Times reports (opens in new tab), it depends on how Uncle Sam classifies the payments. If they're deemed to be tax refunds (after all, the payments are officially called "Middle Class Tax Refunds"), people who itemize on their federal return instead of claiming the standard deduction could have to pay federal tax on the payment.

On the other hand, if the IRS sees the California stimulus payments more as a "gift" or "welfare" payments, then they shouldn't be taxed at the federal level. At this point, it's better to assume the payment will be subject to federal taxes. However, before filing your 2022 federal tax return next year, consult with a tax professional to see if IRS guidance has been issued stating that the payments are exempt from tax.

Rocky is a Senior Tax Editor for Kiplinger with more than 20 years of experience covering federal and state tax developments. Before coming to Kiplinger, he worked for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting and Kleinrock Publishing, where he provided breaking news and guidance for CPAs, tax attorneys, and other tax professionals. He has also been quoted as an expert by USA Today, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Reuters, Accounting Today, and other media outlets. Rocky has a law degree from the University of Connecticut and a B.A. in History from Salisbury University.

How do I track my California stimulus check?

As the state continues to send out the direct payments, is there a way to track the progress of your check? The short answer is no, the Franchise Tax Board says.

When can I expect my 2nd Golden State stimulus check?

1 expect up to 45 days after the return has been processed, the FTB says. Paper checks go out by the last three digits of your ZIP code on your 2020 tax return. Look at the "when you'll receive your payment" section of the program's website here on "paper check timeframes" for the specifics.

How do I check my second Golden State stimulus?

Tax filers can estimate the GSS II payment by using the GSS II estimator on FTB's website. Go to ftb.ca.gov and search golden state stimulus II estimator.

How long does it take to receive Golden State stimulus?

If you think you qualify for the Golden State Stimulus I , and did not receive a payment, contact us. Allow 45 days beyond mailing timeframes to allow for processing.