How can i track my california stimulus

(NEXSTAR) – As California continues to send out the Middle Class Tax Refund straight into residents’ bank accounts, the state is also formulating a more detailed plan on when it will send out the next batches of payments.

The state is currently in the first phase of sending out the tax refund (also called “inflation relief” payments by legislators). The next group will start receiving payments on Monday, Oct. 24.

As the state continues to send out the direct payments, is there a way to track the progress of your check?

The short answer is no, the Franchise Tax Board says. But to combat frustration with the vague timelines originally laid out, the agency has released more details on when you can expect to receive your direct deposit or debit card.

To find out when you’ll see your tax refund, you first need to determine if you’re getting a direct deposit or a debit card. If you filed your California state taxes electronically in 2020 and received a refund by direct deposit, you’ll likely get a direct deposit in this case, too. Pretty much everyone else will get a debit card, the state says.

Second, you’ll need to determine if you received a Golden State Stimulus payment last year, in either round 1 or round 2. Golden State Stimulus (GSS) recipients of 2021 are first in line to get the Middle Class Tax Refund in 2022.

There’s one final complication: Debit cards are being sent out in smaller batches, organized in alphabetical order by last name. GSS recipients are first up, broken into four groups getting their debit cards in the mail between Oct. 24 and Dec. 10.

The remaining eligible recipients will be paid between December 2022 and January 2023. The Franchise Tax Board is expected to announce more precise dates next month.

Based on all the criteria above, here’s what we know about when you can expect your inflation relief check:

Direct deposit inflation relief payment:

Debit card inflation relief payment:

The payments range in size from $200 to $1,050. How much you get depends on your 2020 income, filing status and number of dependents.

The Franchise Tax Board expects to have issued about 8 million direct deposits and 10 million debit cards by early next year.

If you're still waiting for a California stimulus check payment, you might not have to wait much longer. While both direct deposit and debit card payments started in October, there are still a lot of Californians waiting for their stimulus payment. However, some of those people won't have to wait much longer. If your last name begins with F to M, a debit card with your name on it could be in the mail this week.

The one-time California stimulus payments – formally known as Middle Class Tax Refunds – range from $200 to $1,050, depending on the filing status and income reported on your 2020 California tax return, and whether you have any dependents. Many other states are sending stimulus checks in 2022 as well, including Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia to name a few. In most cases, these state stimulus payments are designed to help residents dealing with high inflation, and funding for them typically comes from budget surpluses or federal COVID-relief funds. (A handful of states also enacted gas tax holidays, suspended grocery taxes, or otherwise cut taxes to help their residents.)

For a broader look at California taxes, see the California State Tax Guide.

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Who Will Get a California Stimulus Check?

You qualify for a California stimulus check payment if you:

• Filed a 2020 California income tax return by October 15, 2021;
• Reported an adjusted gross income on your 2020 California tax return of $250,000 or less if you filed as a single person or married person filing a separate tax return, or $500,000 or less for anyone else;
• Weren't claimed as a dependent on anyone else's 2020 tax return;
• Were a California resident for at least six months in 2020; and
• Are a California resident on the date your payment is issued.

Use the California Franchise Tax Board's handy online tool (opens in new tab) to check your eligibility and get an estimate of how much money you should get.

Direct Deposit vs. Debit Card Stimulus Payments from California

If you filed your 2020 California tax return electronically and received a California tax refund by direct deposit, then you'll generally receive your stimulus payment by direct deposit, too. You can also expect a direct deposit payment if you previously received a Golden State Stimulus (GSS) payment in 2021 or early this year via that payment method.

Most other people who are eligible for a payment will receive a debit card in the mail for the appropriate amount. You will also get a debit card stimulus payment if you received a 2020 California tax refund by direct deposit but have changed banks or your bank account number since then. People who received an advance payment from a tax service provider or paid a tax preparer's fee with a tax refund will also get a debit card in the mail.

If you get a debit card in the mail, you can activate the card online (opens in new tab) or by calling 1-800-240-0223.

When California Stimulus Payments Are Being Sent

Direct deposit payments to people who previously received GSS direct deposit payments first began on October 7. The FTB sent those payments through October 25. For people who didn't previously receive a GSS payment via direct deposit, but who otherwise qualify for direct deposit stimulus payments now, payments began again on October 28 and will run through November 14.

According to the FTB, direct deposit payments typically show up in your bank account within three to five business days from the issue date. However, that estimate may vary on a bank-by-bank basis. The FTB expected to issue approximately 90% of all direct deposit stimulus payments by the end of October 2022.

Debit cards will take longer to distribute. The FTB's plan is to send cards in batches, generally depending on whether you previously received a GSS and your last name. According to the schedule, eligible people who previously received a GSS payment via debit card with a last name beginning with A to E were issued a California stimulus check debit card between October 24 and November 5, 2022. If you're last name begins with a letter from F to M, your card will be issued between November 6 and 19. Previous GSS debit card recipients with last names beginning with N to V will be issued a stimulus debit card between November 20 and December 3, while people with last names starting with W to Z will have to wait until December 4 to 10.

There's a separate schedule for people who didn't previously receive a GSS debit card but are slated to receive one for their California stimulus payment. If your last name begins with A to K, your stimulus debit card will be issued between December 5 and 17. The payment schedule will be announced after November 21 if your last name is in the M to Z range.

If you're getting a debit card because you changed your bank or bank account since filing your 2020 California income tax return, then your California stimulus payment debit card will be issued between December 17, 2022, and January 14, 2023.

It can take up to two weeks from the expected issue date before you actually receive your debit card in the mail. Also note that the FTB will mail a debit card to the latest address it has on file, which is usually the address on your most recent California tax return. So, if you recently moved, let the FTB know where you're now living. You can edit your mailing information through the MyFTB portal (opens in new tab) or contact the agency through its other official channels (opens in new tab). However, be aware may take longer to process your stimulus payment if you had a change of address.

Are the California Stimulus Payments Taxable?

If you receive a California stimulus payment this year, either by direct deposit or debit card, it won't be considered taxable income on the California income tax return you'll file next year. That's according to the California FTB.

However, it's not clear at this point if it will be taxed on your federal tax return. As the Los Angeles Times reports (opens in new tab), it depends on how Uncle Sam classifies the payments. If they're deemed to be tax refunds (after all, the payments are officially called "Middle Class Tax Refunds"), people who itemize on their federal return instead of claiming the standard deduction could have to pay federal tax on the payment.

On the other hand, if the IRS sees the California stimulus payments more as a "gift" or "welfare" payments, then they shouldn't be taxed at the federal level. At this point, it's better to assume the payment will be subject to federal taxes. However, before filing your 2022 federal tax return next year, consult with a tax professional to see if IRS guidance has been issued stating that the payments are exempt from tax.

Rocky is a Senior Tax Editor for Kiplinger with more than 20 years of experience covering federal and state tax developments. Before coming to Kiplinger, he worked for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting and Kleinrock Publishing, where he provided breaking news and guidance for CPAs, tax attorneys, and other tax professionals. He has also been quoted as an expert by USA Today, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Reuters, Accounting Today, and other media outlets. Rocky has a law degree from the University of Connecticut and a B.A. in History from Salisbury University.

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