Do I enter my 2nd stimulus payment on my 2020 return if I received it in 2021?

[lvassalotti]

I received my 2nd stimulus check in January 2021.  Do I claim it on my 2020 return?

[xmasbaby0]

YES

Congress passed the 2nd stimulus bill at the end of 2020.   The 2nd stimulus checks started going out at the very end of December 2020 and continued into early January 2021.  When you fill out the recovery rebate credit it is important for you to enter the entire total of the amount you have received for yourself, your spouse, and your dependent children so far.   Entering the wrong amount might delay your 2020 refund.

[ErnieS0]

Yes. Include the first and second stimulus payments on your 2020 income tax return even if you received the second payment in January 2021.

The total stimulus amount (first and second) is “reconciled” on the 2020 income tax return. If you receive less than you were entitled to, the additional amount will be added to your return as a Recovery Rebate Credit. If you received more than you were supposed to get, you will not have to pay it back.

Either way, put all your stimulus money on your return so TurboTax can do the proper calculations.

In TurboTax Online:

                1. Sign into your account and continue from where you left off

                2. Click on Federal in the left-hand column, then on Federal Review on the top of the screen

                3. On the next page titled Let's make sure you got the right stimulus amount, click on Continue

                4. Follow the interview

                5. TurboTax will determine whether you are entitled to any additional stimulus

Any stimulus amount remaining due to you will show as a credit on line 30 of your form 1040.

[lvassalotti]

The instructions said from if the 2nd stimulus was paid in December TO January, not THRU January.  Should I file an amended return now or wait to see what happens?

[WendyN2]

No, there is no need for you to file an amended as how you filed is fine. 

[lvassalotti]

Thank you.  I asked because it said I was getting a $1200 refund because I entered $0.00 in the 2nd stimulus area.