Can I get the full stimulus check if I filed jointly with my spouse who made too much money in 2019 but now file separately for 2020?

[olso4051]

in 2019 we made too much money as a couple to get the full stimulus but we still got more than an individual would have. for 2020 Taxes we want to file separately, and then my income would make me eligible for the full stimulus, can I file for a Recovery Rebate Credit on my Taxes?

[MinhT1]

Yes, as the first two stimulus were advanced payments of the Recovery Rebate credit.

You can claim the difference as the Recovery rebate credit on your 2020 tax return.

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.

[olso4051]

I followed that and is why I asked the question. The problem is Turbo Tax says I'm entitled to the full amount, but the amounts the IRS paid are more than an individual would get since we filed jointly in 2019. First payment $1,200 or $2,400 for Married Filing jointly. We received something like $1,800 because we filed jointly for 2019. Now I want to file married separately, so when Turbo tax asks me how much I got and I type $1,800 it says you got the max you could get. But really I think I should type $900 in because I split the $1,800 with my spouse. But then Turbo tax says to type the exact amount so that the IRS doesn't hold up your return.

[olso4051]

Also I assume my spouse was not supposed to get $900 if they file separately and their income is too high. I guess I just wanted to see if it came out as a wash or if there is a benefit to filing separately this year.

[ThomasM125 · Accepted solution]

The stimulus payments are based on your 2020 tax return. When asked how much stimulus you received, you should enter half of what you received jointly, which would be less than the $1,800 you would have entered if your payment was not limited based on your income.

[Edited 3/23/21 5:52 PM EST]

@olso4051

[Hal_Al]

@ThomasM125 

Because of their income, poster & spouse got something less than the $1800 each (poster states "something like $1,800" total).  I believe he is correct, he would indicate that he got half of that total (about $900) on his MFS return. 

@olso4051 said "I guess I just wanted to see if it came out as a wash or if there is a benefit to filing separately this year."

The only way to know for sure  is to prepare tax returns both ways and compare.  My gut feeling is you'll come out better foregoing the stimulus and filing a joint return. 

[ThomasM125]

@Hal_Al Yes, I agree and edited my response accordingly!