Millions of eligible Americans have already received their Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) via direct deposit or paper checks, according to the IRS. Others are still waiting. The payments are part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Here are some answers to questions you may have about EIPs. Who’s eligible to get an EIP? Eligible taxpayers who filed their 2018 or 2019 returns and chose direct deposit of their refunds automatically receive an Economic Impact Payment. You must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien and you can’t be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return. In general, you must also have a valid Social Security number and have adjusted gross income (AGI) under a certain threshold. The IRS also says that automatic payments will go to people receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits and Railroad Retirement benefits. How much are the payments? EIPs can be up to $1,200 for individuals, or $2,400 for married couples, plus $500 for each qualifying child. How much income must I have to receive a payment? You don’t need to have any income to receive a payment. But for higher income people, the payments phase out. The EIP is reduced by 5% of the amount that your AGI exceeds $75,000 ($112,500 for heads of household or $150,000 for married joint filers), until it’s $0. The payment for eligible individuals with no qualifying children is reduced to $0 once AGI reaches:
- $198,000 for married joint filers,
- $136,500 for heads of household, and
- $99,000 for all others
- $208,000 for married joint filers,
- $146,500 for heads of household,
- $109,000 for all others