Stimulus receipt worksheet

[3621larry]

We filed a joint return in 2019 and got the correct amount for the first and second stimulus payments.  In 2020 we are separated  with each filing as head of household.  Do each of us enter the total amount received or divide it in half when doing the credit worksheet for our 2020 returns? 

[AmyC · Accepted solution]

To qualify for head of household, you must have paid the majority of the bills for the year. This tells me you were not living together for over 6 months. Otherwise, you could not both file as HOH.

After you enter your tax information and are ready for the Federal Review, stimulus will be the first question.

• If you are trying to trigger it: 
  1. go to Other Situations
  2. click Done. 
  3. The next question will ask about payments received.
  • It asks Did you get a stimulus payment? Select Yes.
  • Boxes appear and you enter your half of the stimulus payments.
  • Click continue.
  • Your refund amount will change by any missed amount of stimulus.
  • Continue and the next page says Great news! You qualify for the stimulus credit and shows any missing amount. That is the Rebate Recovery Credit. 

The program will determine any missing amount and add it to your refund.

[3621larry]

The answer saved over $1,400 in tax.  I then did more detailed research at IRS.GOV and finally found a similar answer which was well hidden