Can I still receive the final California stimulus check if I am eligible?
The deadline to apply for the second Golden State stimulus check has already passed but some residents have an extension to allow them to file state taxes.
The second round of Golden State stimulus checks was provided by the California Comeback Plan, the $100 billion stimulus package signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom back in July 2021. The first payments went out in October last year and the distribution effort is nearly complete.
To be eligible for the payments California residents must have submitted their 2020 tax return no later than 15 October 2021. This was necessary for the California Franchise Tax Board (CFTB) to decide how much each individual’s entitlement was and to make sure that it goes to the correct bank account.
The vast majority of people who are able to receive a Golden State stimulus check will now have received theirs, but there are some exceptions.
Paper check recipients may experience delays
The final batch of payments scheduled for the Golden State stimulus check was sent out on 11 January, meaning that most will have already received theirs. The payments were staggered between October 2021 and January 2022 on the basis of the final three digits of the recipient’s ZIP code.
As well the case with the three rounds of federal stimulus checks, payments made via direct deposit into a bank account were issued first and often arrived within days. The final payments to be distributed were the paper stimulus checks, which were sent to those with limited banking access.
In the case of the Golden State stimulus checks, the CFTB have advised that it could take up to three weeks after mailing for them to arrive. This means that anyone expecting a paper stimulus check may need to wait three weeks after 11 January for it to appear in their mailbox.
The deadline can be extended for those who request an ITIN
The 15 October deadline means that most Californians have now missed their chance to apply for the Golden State stimulus check, but there is one group who may still be able to.
If you requested an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) before 15 October but had not received it before the deadline, then you have some extra time to file taxes. Workers who do not qualify for a Social Security Number (SSN) can apply for an ITIN instead, allowing them to work in California in certain circumstances.
If this applies to you, then you have until 15 February 2022 to use your ITIN to file taxes and trigger payment of your Golden State stimulus check.