GOLDEN STATE STIMULUS CHECK
Last batch of Golden State stimulus in California on October 31: eligibility and who qualifies for it
Another round of Golden State stimulus checks has been sent to more than 4.5 million residents. Who is eligible and when can you expect your check?
From 2019 to 2020, the poverty rate in California fell from 16.2 percent to 12.3 percent.
Experts have attributed much of this decrease to federal pandemic-related aid like stimulus checks and enhanced unemployment insurance.
In the coming weeks as the state wraps up the distribution of its own stimulus checks. Early next year, researchers will be able to evaluate whether measures to help low-income residents had the same poverty alleviation effects as those passed by the federal government last year.
Golden State stimulus checks sent to help low-income residents
In February the California state legislature approved the sending of direct payments to those making under $35,000.
Golden State Stimulus I: Eligibility Requirements
| 2020 Tax Return Information | Payment Amount |
|
If you...
| $600 |
If you are not a CalEITC recipient, but...
| $1200 |
You file a joint return with a spouse and...
| $600 |
You file a joint return with a spouse and:
| $1200 |
Golden State Stimulus I: Eligibility Requirements
- Are a CalEITC recipient;
- File with an ITIN; and
- Made $75,000 or less (total CA AGI)
Golden State Stimulus I: Eligibility Requirements
- File with an ITIN and
- Made $75,000 or less (total CA AGI)
Golden State Stimulus I: Eligibility Requirements
- At least one of you files with an ITIN
- Made $75,000 or less (total CA AGI)
Golden State Stimulus I: Eligibility Requirements
- You are a CalEITC recipient
- At least one of you files with an ITIN
- Made $75,000 or less (total CA AGI)
Source: California Franchise Tax Board
In late spring, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state had seen a historic budget surplus, despite the impacts of the covid-19 pandemic. In light of this news, the Governor and many Democrats advocated to expand eligibility of the stimulus check program to all those making under $75,000 a year.
According to the California Franchise Tax Board, you must:
Golden State Stimulus II: Eligibility Requirements
- Have filed your 2020 taxes by October 15, 2021
- Have had a California Adjusted Gross Income (CA AGI) between $1 to $75,000 for the 2020 tax year. For this information refer to: Line 17 on Form 540 OR Line 16 on Form 540 2EZ
- Have had wages between $0 to $75,000 for the 2020 tax year
- Been a California resident for more than half of the 2020 tax year
- Been a California resident on the date payment is issued
- Cannot be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer
Source: California Franchise Tax Board
How many checks have been sent?
Around nine million people became eligible to receive the $600 direct payment after the requirements were expanded in July. The next batch of Golden State stimulus checks will be sent on 1 November. The batch being sent consists of physical checks sent to eligible residents living in zip codes ending 221-375.
Zip Code Distribution Schedule
Last 3 digits of ZIP code |
Mailing timeframes |
001-065 | 10/04/2021 through 10/22/2021 |
066-221 | 10/18/2021 through 11/05/2021 |
222-302 | 11/1/2021 through 11/19/2021 |
303-543 | 11/15/2021 through 12/03/2021 |
544-709 | 11/29/2021 through 12/17/2021 |
710-998 | 12/13/2021 through 12/31/2021 |
Source: California Tax Franchise Board, 2021
How many Californians have received their Golden State stimulus checks?
To date, around half of those eligible have received their check. Andrew LePage spokesmen for the California Franchise Tax Board (CFTB) told an ABC affiliate that on November 1st over 750,000 checks would be mailed. This follows a previous batch sent on 29 October which reached more than 400,000 tax filers through direct deposit.
Physical Checks
At this point, the state has made all direct deposit payments. Those who will receive a physical check may have to wait until January 2022, depending on the zip code they live in.
All tax filers, or those eligible, needed to have submitted a tax return to the CFTB by 15 October to receive a check. Those who submitted their returns very close to the deadline should expect to wait between one to two months before they see their payments.
For those who submitted their return and provided direct deposit information after 1 September, a forty-five-day waiting period should be expected. If no direct deposit information was given at the point of filing, a physical check will be mailed, by the CFTB will need between sixty days to review the information and send the check.