Photo: Joshua Resnick (Shutterstock)
Although there’s little to see in terms of federal relief from record-breaking inflation, some states are stepping up to help their residents face our current economic reality. Twenty states are sending (or already sent) one-time rebate checks or other payments to eligible taxpayers. While these payment amounts aren’t as large as the federal stimulus checks for 2021 pandemic relief, they could make a difference for families getting slammed by inflation. Read on to see if you live in a state sending out a stimulus check, how much money you can get, and when you can expect to see that check in the mail.
California
How much: From $200 to $1,050. This online tool gives you an estimate of you payment amount based on your income, filing status, and whether you have dependents.
Who: California’s Middle Class Tax Refund is available to residents who:
Filed a 2020 California tax return by Oct. 15, 2021.Did not exceed certain income limits in 2020.Couldn’t be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s 2020 tax year.Were a California resident for at least six months in 2020.When: Around 90% of all direct deposits should be issued in October 2022. If you received a Golden State Stimulus (GSS) payment last year or early this year by direct deposit, you’ll receive your California Middle Class Tax Refund payment from Oct. 7 to Oct. 25, 2022. If you instead receive state payments via debit card, the state will mail Middle Class Tax Refund debit cards between Oct. 24 and Dec. 10, 2022.
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Colorado
How much: $750 for single filers, $1,500 for joint filer (going off your 2021 filing status).
Who: Cash Back payments are going to Coloradans 18 years of age or older (as of Dec. 31, 2021), who were residents of the state for all of 2021, and who filed a 2021 Colorado income tax return or applied for a Colorado property tax/rent/heat credit (PTC) rebate.
When: Physical checks were issued by Sept. 30 if you filed your 2021 return by June 30. If you received an extension to file your 2021 Colorado return and filed by the Oct. 17 deadline, your payment will be issued by Jan. 31, 2023.
Connecticut
How much: Up to $250 per child for a maximum of three children ($750 max).
Who: The Child Tax Rebate is for residents who claimed at least one child (18 years or younger) as a dependent on their 2021 federal income tax return, and whose 2021 federal adjusted gross income doesn’t exceed $100,000 for single filers and married couples filing separately, $160,000 for head-of-household filers, or $200,000 for married couples filing a joint return and qualifying widow(er)s.
When: Applications were due July 31, 2022. The state started sending payments in late August.
Delaware
How much: $300
Who: Residents who filed their 2020 tax returns.
When: The initial round of payments went out in May 2022. Additional payments were made to qualifying residents during the summer.
Florida
How much: $450 per family.
Who: The following types of residents qualified for the one-time payment as of July 1, 2022:
Foster parentGuardianship Assistance Program participantRecipient of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) assistanceRelative caregiverNon-relative caregiverWhen: Payments were sent in July 2022. If you didn’t receive a check and think that you should have, you can call the Florida Department of Children and Families at 850-300-4323.
Georgia
How much: Up to $250 for single filers and married people filing separately from their spouse, $375 for head-of-household filers, and $500 for married couples filing a joint return.
Who: Residents who filed both a 2020 and 2021 Georgia income tax return (part-year and nonresident filers may be eligible for a reduced refund). However, even if you file both returns, you won’t get a check if you:
Used an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) when filing a return (although you may eventually qualify for a refund after responding to a letter from the Georgia Department of Revenue);Didn’t owe any tax for 2020; orWere claimed as a dependent on someone else’s 2020 tax return.When: The first refund checks were sent in May 2022.
Hawaii
How much: $100 or $300 per family member, depending on your 2021 tax year filing status and federal adjusted gross income.
Who: Residents who file a 2021 Hawaii income tax return for the 2021 tax year (you must be a Hawaii resident for at least nine months).
However, you don’t qualify if you (1) can be claimed as a dependent on another person’s federal or Hawaii tax return, or (2) are a convicted felon in prison, or (3) were convicted of a misdemeanor and was in jail for all of 2021.
When: Direct deposit payments started going out in early September. Physical checks probably won’t go out until late October.
Idaho
How much: Idaho is paying out two tax rebates: The first one is the greater of (1) $75 per family member, or (2) 12% of the tax liability before credits, “other” taxes, payments, and donations on your 2020 Idaho return. The second rebate amount is equal to the greater of (1) $600 for married couples filing a joint return or $300 for all other filers, or (2) 10% of the tax liability before credits, “other” taxes, payments, and donations on your 2020 Idaho return.
Who: Residents who file 2020 and 2021 Idaho income tax returns by the end of 2022 qualify for the payments.
When: The first round of rebates went out in March 2022, and most payments have already been sent. A second round of payments went out in late September. You can track your rebate payments with Idaho Tax Commission’s online tool.
Illinois
How much: Illinois is also sending out two tax rebates this year: One for income taxes and one for property taxes. Each qualifying resident gets $50 ($100 for married couple who filed a joint return), plus $100 per dependent for up to three dependents. If you claimed property tax credit on your 2021 Illinois tax return, you can receive up to $300. The amount depends on your 2021 Illinois tax return.
Who: You qualify for the income tax rebate if you were an Illinois resident in 2021 and the adjusted gross income on your 2021 Illinois tax return is under $200,000 (under $400,000 for joint filers). To qualify for the property tax rebate, you must be an Illinois resident who paid Illinois property taxes in 2021 on your primary residence in 2020, and the adjusted gross income on your 2021 Illinois tax return must be $250,000 or less ($500,000 or less for joint filers).
When: The state started sending rebate payments in September, but it’s expected to take several months before all payments are delivered. You can track your rebate payments with the Illinois Department of Revenue’s online tool.
Indiana
How much: Indiana is also sending out two payments: The first rebate amount is $125, and the second is $200.
Who: For the first refund, you had to file a 2020 Indiana resident tax return by Jan. 3, 2022. If you qualify for that first Automatic Taxpayer Refund (ATR), you qualify for the second. But if you don’t qualify for the first, you could get the second if you (1) receive Social Security benefits in 2022, and (2) aren’t claimed as a dependent on anyone else’s tax return. If this is the case, you have to file a 2022 Indiana tax return and claim the second ATR as a credit.
When: First-round rebates started going out in May 2022. The second payments are expected to be delivered by the end of October.
Maine
How much: $850 per person, or $1,700 for a married couple.
Who: Residents who (1) file a 2021 Maine income tax return by Oct. 31, 2022; (2) can’t be claimed as a dependent on anyone else’s Maine tax return; and (3) have a 2021 federal adjusted gross income under $100,000 (single filers and married taxpayers filing separate returns), $150,000 (head-of-household filers), or $200,000 (joint filers and surviving spouses).
When: The state began sending payments in June and will continue to send payments through 2022 as additional 2021 tax year returns are filed (residents have until the end of this month to file their 2021 Maine tax return). You can track your rebate payments with the Maine Revenue Services’ online tool.
Massachusetts
How much: The exact amount has not been confirmed yet. It’s estimated to be about 13% of the recipient’s 2021 Massachusetts income tax liability.
Who: Residents who file their 2021 return by Oct. 17, 2022.
When: Payments are expected to begin in November 2022.
New Jersey
How much: Property tax rebates under the ANCHOR Tax Relief Program depend on on your income and whether you’re an owner or a renter.
Homeowners with a 2019 household income of $150,000 or less will receive $1,500.Homeowners with household income from $150,001 to $250,000 will receive $1,000. Qualified renters (income of $150,000 or less) will get a $450 rebate.Who: New Jersey residents who owned or rented a primary home in the state on Oct. 1, 2019. Homeowners can’t have a 2019 household income above $250,000. The limit for renters is $150,000.
Some New Jersey residents could also receive Middle Class Tax Rebates of up to $500 in 2022. These payments began in 2021, but qualified residents can still receive a payment once they file a 2020 New Jersey income tax return.
When: Payments will start being sent in late spring 2023 (no later than May 2023). Applications will be accepted until Dec. 30, 2022.
New Mexico
How much: New Mexico is another state sending out two tax rebates: The first rebate amount is $500 for joint filers, head-of-household filers, and surviving spouses with incomes under $150,000, and $250 for single filers and married people filing separate tax returns. The second rebate is worth $1,000 for joint filers, head-of-household filers, and surviving spouses, and $500 for single filers and married residents filing separately.
Who: The following New Mexico 2021 taxpayers qualify:
Married couples filing joint returns, head-of-household filers, and surviving spouses with 2021 incomes under $150,000Single filers and married people filing separately with an income under $75,000. Your 2021 state tax return is filed by May 31, 2023.You can’t be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return.When: First-round rebate payments began in July 2022, while second-round payments were sent in separate batches in June and August 2022. Additional payments will be sent automatically once a 2021 New Mexico tax return is filed and processed (again, the return must be filed by May 31, 2023).
New York
How much: New York state homeowners should have received property-tax rebates of up to $1,050. New York City households got an average of $425 back. There are a lot of variables for these payments, and you can use the New York Department of Taxation and Finance’s online “check lookup” tool to find out how much you qualify for. According to the state, the average payment will be about $270.
Who: For the state’s Homeowner Tax Rebate Credit, New York homeowners can receive an advance payment of a new income tax credit for the 2022 tax year if they qualify for a 2022 School Tax Relief (STAR) credit or exemption. Their 2020 income must be $250,000 or less.
In addition, New York is also sending payments to people who received at least $100 for either or both of the state’s child credit or earned income credit for 2021 tax year. A 2021 New York State income tax return must have been filed by April 18, 2022, unless a filing extension was granted (the extended filing deadline is Oct. 17, 2022).
When: Homeowners who received a School Tax Relief (STAR) credit or exemption during the fiscal year 2023 should have been sent a check by the end of August. If you believe you are eligible and did not receive a check, you can file a claim before the end of November.
Oregon
How much: $600 per household.
Who: Low-income residents who claimed the state’s earned income tax credit on their 2020 Oregon income tax return and lived in Oregon from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2020. Their Oregon tax return had to be filed by Dec. 31, 2021 (or an amended 2020 return could have been filed by April 15, 2022).
When: Payments started going out in June 2022 and ended July 31, 2022.
Pennsylvania
How much: For eligible homeowners, the property tax/rent rebate amounts range from $250 to $650. For renters, the standard rebate is either $500 or $650. Certain seniors can get a rebate as high as $975. For those who received a property tax rebate last year, their 2022 rebate is reduced to 70% of the 2021 amount.
Who: The state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is for Pennsylvanians who are over 65 years old, a widow(er) at least 50 years old, or a person with disabilities at least 18 years old. There’s also an annual income limit: $35,000 for homeowners and $15,000 for renters (50% of your Social Security benefits are excluded).
When: Checks were delivered starting August 2022. Payments will continue into 2023, and you have until the end of the year to apply.
Rhode Island
How much: $250 per child, up to a maximum of $750 (only applies to children who were 18 years old or younger at the end of 2021).
Who: The Child Tax Rebate depends on your income and the filing status claimed on your 2021 Rhode Island income tax return. If you’re married and filed a joint return, you qualify for a rebate if your federal adjusted gross income is $200,000 or less. For any other filing status, your federal AGI can’t exceed $100,000.
When: The state started sending checks on Oct. 3 to residents who filed their 2021 Rhode Island tax return Aug. 31, 2022. Checks are issued on a rolling basis. For people who filed an extended tax return by Oct. 17, 2022, the state will start mailing checks in December 2022. You can track your rebate payments with the Rhode Island Division of Taxation’s online tool.
South Carolina
How much: For now, up to $700; the actual cap amount won’t be announced until at least November.
Who: You’re eligible for a tax rebate in 2022 if you file a 2021 South Carolina income tax return by Feb. 15, 2023, and you owe state income tax for tax year 2021 (i.e., you have a state tax liability).
Note: The original filing deadline was Oct. 17, 2022, but was pushed back to Feb. 15 for South Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Ian.
When: If you file your return by Oct. 17, 2022, your rebate will be issued by Dec. 31, 2022. If you file between Oct. 17, 2022, and Feb. 15, 2023, a rebate check will be issued by March 31, 2023.
Virginia
How much: Up to $250, or $500 for joint filers.
Who: Residents who file a 2021 Virginia income tax return by Nov. 1, 2022, and have a 2021 Virginia net tax liability. The Virginia Department of Taxation’s website has more information about eligible taxpayers.
When: Rebates started being distributed in a “soft launch” beginning Sept. 16. According to CNET, the agency expects 2.9 million rebates to be issued by Oct. 11. Eligible residents who filed by July 1 should receive their rebate by Oct. 31. If you file your return between Sep. 6 and Nov. 1, 2022, expect your payment within four months from the date you file your return.
