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Level 2
posted Jan 8, 2021 4:18:04 PM

Why did we only received half the stimulus, we filed Married Filing Jointly and received $600 today not $1200, our AGI was 82,879?

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24 Replies
Level 3
Jan 8, 2021 4:19:09 PM

I would also like this question answered. My family received our payment late, on January 8. However, it is half what my family of three expected -- $900.  It should have been $1800.

According to my research, there were to be no offsets or other reductions to the second stimulus payments, regardless of well anything. 

So, TurboTax, where's the rest of our money?

Level 7
Jan 9, 2021 3:53:17 AM

TurboTax cannot tell you that.  You can find out from the IRS.

Level 15
Jan 9, 2021 5:01:12 AM

@richfieldmall - while no one can explain "why", there is a 'settle up' section on the 2020 tax return where everything will be reevaluated again,  Anything missing will end up on Line 30 of Form 1040 and result in a larger refund (or less tax owed)

 

$900 is an odd number.  for any reason does your 2019 tax return show filing single or separate? or does your spouse have an ITIN and not an SS# - I am just guessing at why the odd number.  But again, it will all be reconciling on the 2020 tax return. 

Level 2
Jan 9, 2021 5:31:28 AM

Same situation here. First stimulus came through with no issues. This time, We only got half of what we were expecting.

Level 15
Jan 9, 2021 5:48:06 AM

@Mlcstar1 - would suggest waiting to see if there is a 2nd deposit coming....  the IRS doesn't accept returns until the end of January and they will continue to send out payments through Jan 15, so waiting to see how the dust settles will save a lot of time in the end.

 

Further, if it helps any, the 2nd stimulus was based on your 2019 tax return while the 1st stimulus was based on 2018 or 2019 - whatever the IRS had available at the time

Level 2
Jan 9, 2021 9:28:24 AM

Both 2018 and 2019 are well below the Married Filing Jointly cut off. The first stimulus came through no trouble at all. I understand the issue Turbo Tax first had with the delay, however, I do not understand the half payment this time around. I had read about the Line 30 Credit for any funds not received, would just be nice to have it now. 

Level 2
Jan 9, 2021 9:38:59 AM

I think it’s a married filing jointly issue. I got exactly 1/2 (meaning half what we were supposed to get for our 2 kiddos too). 

Level 3
Jan 9, 2021 10:25:50 AM

No, my income is far less than 75,000. Now, with the quarantines, etc., even lower, despite my programming and research analyst background.

At first, I wondered if Betsy DeVos' machinations had re-awoken my old student loan debts, resulting in my half of the stimulus payments being offset, but from what I could find, the IRS specifically blocked any offsets with the stimulus payments. There were no offsets on the previous stimulus payments, which we received, in full, with no problems.

Whether it's another IRS programming mistake -- or TurboTax just decided to boost its bottom line #oops -- this is an error. It is exactly half what we were due.

I do not imagine that I would be the only one. Reading online, there are many getting half what they expected.

This appears to be a systemic error.

Indeed, it is simply impossible to imagine being anything else. 

Level 15
Jan 9, 2021 10:36:07 AM

@richfieldmall 

1. There are no offsets for the 2nd Economic Impact Payment.  Go to this U.S. Treasury website - https://fiscal.treasury.gov/top/faqs-for-the-public-covid-19.html

2. TurboTax is not a bank, it cannot send or receive a stimulus payment so it cannot pad its bottom line with a stimulus payment.  Only the IRS controls when and if a stimulus payment is distributed.

Go to this IRS get my payment website - https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment

 

If you do not receive any other stimulus payments by January 15, 2021, then the stimulus payment for which you are eligible to receive will be entered on your 2020 federal tax return as a tax credit on Form 1040 Line 30.

The TurboTax program will ask about stimulus payments in the Federal Review section of the program.

Level 15
Jan 9, 2021 10:37:06 AM

Sometimes married couples get separate checks/deposits  for unknown reasons ...  so wait until 1/20 and if a paper check or deposit  for the balance doesn't show up then apply for the missing money on your tax return.  

 

 

 

The stimulus checks are  an advance on a credit you can receive on your 2020 tax return.  If something went wrong or you did not get the stimulus check this year, you can get it when you file your 2020 return in early 2021—if you are eligible.  It will end up on line 30 of your 2020 Form 1040.

            

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payment-information-center-topic-j-reconciling-on-your-...

 

https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments-for-individuals-...

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-topics/help/how-will-the-stimulus-package-impact-me/00/1393859

 

 

 

The IRS will stop mailing checks on 1/15 so if you don't get it by the time the efiling opens at  the end of the month you can apply for the missing money on the 2020 return.  

               

CAUTION to those eager to jump the gun ... if you do NOT enter the correct amount of stimulus the IRS  did pay you in advance then expect your eagerness to delay your return being processed. And since the IRS is still suffering from understaffing due to the covid situation and perpetual underfunding  and they are also stretched thin managing the last minute tax law/form changes on top of sending out second stimulus payments  expect the delays to be long.  

Level 2
Jan 9, 2021 10:40:05 AM

I will say we are grateful TurboTax has been working to get us anything... it’s just bizarre that it is EXACTLY half. When I checked the IRS tool earlier this week it said I wasn’t eligible after it initially showed it having been send on 1/4. 

Level 15
Jan 9, 2021 10:48:17 AM

There have been several posts saying the same thing odd as it is  ... all anyone can do is wait and see what washes out in the end.  

Level 15
Jan 9, 2021 10:48:33 AM

@Mlcstar1 - again, suggest waiting it out to se if the other half arrives, if you file that it wasn't received and then it appears, it'll be a big headache.  IRS is required by law to stop sending out payments in 1/15, so the mail should clear by Jan 27, which is the first date the IRS is accepting tax returns so there is really no incentive to file any earlier than 1.27, esp. if the payment arrives before then. 

Level 7
Jan 9, 2021 1:26:02 PM

I bet you filed married filing separate and your spouse got the other half.

Level 3
Jan 9, 2021 1:47:29 PM

Are you serious? As though we wouldn't have thought of that??

Married Filing Jointly! 

Level 7
Jan 10, 2021 4:58:43 AM

I bet the IRS computer has it wrong then.  Here is the best way to get through to a person at he IRS.  Best time is 7:00 AM Eastern any weekday except Monday should get you a person within about 10 minutes.


IRS Phone Number | Call Now & Skip the Wait (gethuman.com)

Level 15
Jan 10, 2021 5:02:02 AM

not worth the time calling the IRS.... they are just going to tell you to clear it up on your 2020 tax return.

 

Look at the Federal Review section and enter the stimulus that you did receive.  Then look at Line 30 of the 1040 form and the Recovery Credit (the missing money) will be displayed there.  That will have the effect of increasing your refund or decreasing what you owe.  

 

I would wait to file until the end of January.. The IRS will stop sending payments on the 15th and by the end of the month any checks in the mail would have arrived. 

Level 2
Jan 10, 2021 7:36:01 AM

I do the taxes and file Married Filing Jointly. All refunds or stimulus go into one bank account as it always has. That isn't the issue..

Level 2
Jan 10, 2021 7:43:07 AM

Thanks everyone. Sounds like several of us in the same boat. When I started this post, I was mostly wondering if it had happened to others or was a faux pas with ours. We will eventually get it, I am not extremely worried about it, just would have helped now.

Level 2
Jan 10, 2021 7:46:16 AM

Yep! Feels good knowing you aren’t on an island 🤣

Level 3
Jan 15, 2021 11:11:05 AM

WE GOT OUR REMAINING MONEY IN THE MAIL.

Today, Jan. 15, I received a letter with an enclosed "EIP Card" from the Dept. of Treasury via a private company, "Economic Impact Payment Card, PO Box 247022, Omaha, NE 68124-7022. (It could have passed for a bill or junk mail, although there was a note on the envelope stating it was neither).

I activated the enclosed debit card. The balance contains the rest of the stimulus payments that were due my family, in full. We are much relieved. 

My best guess is that these funds could have been offset -- for anything other than a stimulus payment student loan debts, etc. -- and were diverted to a card-based payment for... programming reasons(??). It was addressed directly to me (who has an offset), and not my wife (who doesn't). 

So CHECK YOUR POSTAL MAIL VERY CAREFULLY.  I hope everyone gets their payments today/very soon!

More info here: https://www.eipcard.com/
Also here: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments


New Member
Jan 25, 2021 8:57:25 AM

I filed married filing jointly but received only 600

Expert Alumni
Jan 25, 2021 9:05:45 AM

If the amount received is not correct, you can claim it on your 2020 tax return as the Recovery Rebate Credit.

 

In TurboTax Online, to claim the Recovery Rebate credit please do the following:

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

Level 2
Jan 25, 2021 9:05:58 AM

My husband finally got a check for the other half on Friday!