Why isn't my recovery rebate credit showing up on my federal tax return?

[AlanT222]

Stimulus payments were advances on the Recovery Rebate Credit.

If you received the full amount of both stimulus payments (Economic Impact Payments), you won’t get any additional credit on your return this year since you’ve already received the full amount of the credit as stimulus payments.

If you didn't receive the full amount for your first or second-round stimulus payments, we'll help you claim the Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your taxes this year.

We'll make sure you get the money you qualify for by double-checking the amount and quantity of stimulus payments you received.

Here’s how:

• Enter all of your federal return information as you would normally. During the Federal Review, we’ll check if you meet eligibility requirements for the stimulus payment. If you meet the requirements, you'll see an It looks like you qualified for the stimulus, did you get any payments? screen. We'll ask a few questions about any payments you've already received and then let you know if the Recovery Rebate Credit applies.
  • If you need to make any changes to your stimulus credit responses, search for stimulus and select the jump-to link at the top of the search results to return back to the section. Enter your updated info and Continue.

It’s important that you enter the correct amount of each stimulus payment you received. The first stimulus payments were made between April and September of last year, while the second round of payments were delivered during January and February. You can find the exact amount,

• On your IRS letter-Notice 1444 and/or 1444-B which were mailed to you with the headline, “Your Economic Impact Payment Has Arrived” and were signed by the president. Or,
• By visiting IRS.Gov and creating or accessing your account. Or,
• In your bank statements. You might be able to search your online statements for deposits made by the IRS or US Treasury.

Eligibility rules for the Recovery Rebate Credit

[MichaelTTUser9876]

I went thru the part of TT and put in the amounts I received for stimulus checks. TT did not tell me if I qualifie . I know I did. I checked line 30 on my 1040 and it was blank. Please help!!

[LenaH]

The Recovery Rebate Credit is calculated based on your 2020 income. Per the IRS, your Recovery Rebate Credit amount will be phased out if your adjusted gross income for 2020 exceeds $75,000 if you filing single. The credit phases out at a rate of 5% for AGI's over 75,000. 

In addition, you must:

• Be a US citizen or resident alien.
• Not be claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return. 

If you qualified, but are still not seeing your credit, please make sure you entered $0 for any stimulus payments not received. 

You can follow these steps in TurboTax to check your input:

1. With your return open, search for stimulus with the magnifying glass tool on the top of the page.
2. Select the Jump to Stimulus in the search results to directly go to correct TurboTax page.
3. View and/or edit, if necessary. 

@MichaelTTUser9876

[blackr]

I qualify for the recovery rebate but Turbo Tax will not let me even reach the stimulus screen when I use the "jump to" section you've referred to. I now need to amend my tax return but there is no way for me to edit the recovery rebate portion of the return. Please help ASAP.

[VolvoGirl]

If you did not get prompted to enter your stimulus information, that means you either:

1. Filed as a dependent being claimed on another tax return, or 
2. have an AGI too high to claim the recovery rebate

To get to the stimulus questions in TurboTax at any time, you can search for stimulus and use the Jump to link.  Generally, if you have adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns and surviving spouses, you will receive the full amount of the recovery rebate.  For filers with income above those amounts, the payment amount is reduced. 

After you have entered your tax information and are ready for the Federal Review, it will be the first question.

If you are trying to trigger it, you can go to Other Situations, answer any questions and click Done. The next automatic selection is Federal Review and it will ask about payments received.

[xmasbaby0]

The criteria you must meet to get the 1st and/or 2nd stimulus as a recovery rebate credit on your 2020 return:

A1. Generally, if you are a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien, you will receive an Economic Impact Payment of $1,200  ($2,400  for a joint return) if you (and your spouse if filing a joint return)  are not a dependent of another taxpayer and have a Social Security number valid for employment and your adjusted gross income (AGI) does not exceed:

• $150,000  if married and filing a joint return
• $112,500 if filing as  head of household or
• $75,000  for eligible individuals using any other filing status
  Your payment will be reduced by 5% of  the amount by which your AGI exceeds the applicable threshold above.

You are not eligible for a payment if any of the following apply to you:

• You may be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return (for example, a child or student who may be claimed on a parent’s return or a dependent parent who may be claimed on an adult child’s return).
• You do not have a Social Security number that is valid for employment.
• You are a nonresident alien.
  The following are also not eligible: a deceased individual or an estate or trust.