Mixed-status family second stimulus payment question

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
January 24, 2021
1 reply
0 views

Greetings all,

My question might be very easy or somewhat complex to answer. My wife and I have not received the second stimulus and I'd like to see if were both eligible. No kids. I've search all over Google and can't find exactly what I'm looking for. In summary, my wife and I moved to China in 2019 after many years in the US. She has a SSN and we file jointly. We received the first stimulus in May 2020. At the end of 2019 my wife voluntarily gave up her green card, but we still filed jointly (by mail, with explanation letter, as required by Turbotax.) We have not received the second stimulus and the IRS website says no information available. With our unique situation (wife no GC, so a non-resident alien, but DOES have SSN and we DO file jointly) I just wanted to know if I alone, or we both, or none of us qualify for the second stimulus. Thanks for your help! Canrun1975

Not A Product Question

KathrynG3

Level 14

Assuming you are a U.S. Citizen and only your wife is a nonresident alien who also has a Social Security Number, you could still qualify for the second stimulus payment.

As you found, the guidance on the second payment is unclear for your status. We are still waiting on the IRS to clarify a number of points. For more information, please refer to: Questions and Answers about the Second Economic Impact Payment which is still getting updates.

To check your payment status with the IRS, go to: Get My Payment Link.

If you should have qualified for the second economic stimulus payment, then the Recovery Rebate Credit will be calculated on the 2020 Tax Return. TurboTax will calculate this automatically based on what is reported in the program. If it is not included, then the requirements were not met.

To calculate the Recovery Rebate Credit yourself, go to Form 1040 and 1040-SR Recovery Rebate Credit Worksheet.

canrun1975Author

Level 2

Thank you very much for the reply! It's quite helpful. Yes, I am a US citizen and my wife is a non-resident alien with a SSN as of 2020. We file jointly. I will do as you suggest and keep my eyes open regarding clarification. Hopefully by the time I do taxes in late February/early March things will be more clear, but for now I'll assume we do both qualify unless I learn something different. Thanks again! -[removed]

canrun1975Author

Level 2

If your wife is a nonresident alien, she is NOT eligible for the second stimulus payment. However, you are.

If you don't receive your stimulus payment by the time you file your tax return, you can make an adjustment on your 2020 tax return for stimulus payments you qualify for, but have not received.

To do this in TurboTax, please follow these steps:

Enter the information in your return.
Click Federal Review at the top of your screen.
On the screen, Let's make sure you got the right stimulus amount, click Continue.
You will be asked about the amounts of first round and second round stimulus payments you received.
TurboTax will then calculate the amount of stimulus payment remaining that you are still entitled to. This will show as a credit on line 30 of the 1040.

Currently there is no way to indicate that your wife is a nonresident alien in TurboTax, so it may calculate the stimulus payment for your wife. As a workaround, enter that she did receive the $600 so that the credit for her won't calculate.

For additional information, please see the following articles on the IRS website:

Thank you for the reply!

And I do not mean to be thick as a brick and beat a dead horse, but just to confirm: my nonresident alien wife DOES have a SSN and we file jointly. She is NOT eligible for the second refund though, is that correct? (I am a US citizen).

Thanks a lot and I'll cease and desist for now. Ha! 😉