Recovery Rebate Credit and change in filing status

[meljen]

2019 we filed as married jointly and received two stimulus checks.  Neither was for the full amount due to our AGI.   For 2020 we are filing separately,  when I get to the question about whether we received a stimulus payment I have to answer yes or no.  If I answer no on my filing, I get a refund based on my income. If I enter yes and enter the amounts of the checks, I also get a refund.   How do we handle this?  Do both of us enter yes and split up the amounts? Seems like a bit of a grey area. 

[bluedeb · Accepted solution]

You would enter half of the payment on your separate returns that you received from your joint return.

Joint Economic Impact Payments: What if my spouse and I received a joint Economic Impact payment and we are not filing a joint 2020 return.

A. When joint Economic Impact Payments are issued to two spouses, each spouse must claim half the payment when calculating the Recovery Rebate Credit. Each spouse must enter half the payment on the Recovery Rebate Credit Worksheet. You can view the amounts of your first and second Economic Impact Payments through your online account. Visit Secure Access: How to Register for Certain Online Self-Help Tools for more information about how to create an account or how to reset your username or password. You can also refer to your Notice 1444, Your Economic Impact Payment, which shows the amount of the first EIP and, the IRS is mailing Notice 1444-B which shows the amount of the second EIP.