topic Covid-19 Stimulus Credit in Deductions & credits

Covid-19 Stimulus Credit

noviceattax — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:34:02 GMT

Context: While preparing the federal tax, Turbotax showed me an option for $1400 covid-19 stimulus credit which was distributed in the March-May period of 2021. My question is regarding the stimulus.

My situation: I am an international citizen, with resident alien status. I got married in the latter half of April 2021. My wife is also an international citizen. She came to the US for the first time after mid-September 2021; she doesn't work in the US and doesn't have an SSN (We will be applying for ITIN with this tax return). I am filling my tax as "married filing jointly". I have already received the stimulus amount for me in Mar/April period in my bank account.

Question: Can I take the stimulus amount for my wife as well?

Re: Covid-19 Stimulus Credit

DoninGA — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 20:16:02 GMT

If she does not have a valid Social Security number by the due date of the tax return or the due date of the tax return extension then she is not eligible for the 3rd stimulus payment.

Re: Covid-19 Stimulus Credit

noviceattax — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 20:24:54 GMT

Okay. Thanks. How do I remove that from my TurboTax, then? It has automatically added that.

Re: Covid-19 Stimulus Credit

DoninGA — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 20:39:44 GMT

@noviceattax wrote:

Okay. Thanks. How do I remove that from my TurboTax, then? It has automatically added that.

You can lie to the software and indicate that you received $2,800 in stimulus. That will remove the Recovery Rebate Credit of $1,400 on your Form 1040 Line 30.

Re: Covid-19 Stimulus Credit

noviceattax — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 20:57:33 GMT

Thanks. Hope this will not create other issues.

Also, I can still claim a standard deduction for my wife (adhering to my current situation). Right?

If yes: I have my SSN. Do I need to do something else for claiming her as a dependent? Like fill some other forms, get an ITIN form myself as Head of Household. Or something else.
If no: What other type of tax benefits I can get for her?

Thanks

Re: Covid-19 Stimulus Credit

DoninGA — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 21:05:29 GMT

@noviceattax wrote:

Thanks. Hope this will not create other issues.

Also, I can still claim a standard deduction for my wife (adhering to my current situation). Right?

If yes: I have my SSN. Do I need to do something else for claiming her as a dependent? Like fill some other forms, get an ITIN form myself as Head of Household. Or something else.

If no: What other type of tax benefits I can get for her?

Thanks

If you are legally married you cannot claim a spouse as a dependent. You file as Married Filing Jointly even if one spouse has little or no income. You receive the highest Standard Deduction -

Married Filing Jointly - $25,100 add $1,350 for each spouse age 65 or older

There would be no other tax benefits for her when filing as Married Filing Jointly.