California inflation relief payments schedule: When will the remaining recipients get their checks?
The California Franchise Tax Board has announced an updated schedule for the remaining inflation relief payments. Here’s when to expect them…
The California Franchise Tax Board (CFTB) has sent payments for the Middle Class Tax Refund to over 17 million Californians. The inflation relief payments, which range from $200 to $1,050, are being sent as either direct deposit or debit card.
While those receiving the direct payment to help with the rising cost of living should have already seen the money deposited in their account, the last payments were scheduled to be issued 14 November, the mailing of debit cards follows a separate schedule. The agency responsible for disbursing state tax refunds has finally posted the complete payment schedule.
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When California inflation relief direct deposit payments will arrive
There are two categories of direct deposit recipients, those who got a Golden State Stimulus payment (GSS I or II) and those who did not. Note, there are some taxpayers under certain situations who e-filed and normally receive their refund via direct deposit that will be receiving a debit card. More on that later.
Those that received a GSS I or II were supposed to see their payment issued between 7 October and 25 October 2022. The CFTB planned to issue payments to non-GSS recipients from 28 October through 14 November 2022.
The California tax authority advises that “direct deposits typically occur within 3-5 business days from the issue date but may vary by financial institution.”
When California inflation relief payments will arrive as debit cards
Residents who filed a paper 2020 tax return will be sent a debit card along with others. While generally Golden Staters who e-filed their 2020 tax return and get their tax refund via direct deposit would see the California inflation relief payment put straight into their bank account, there are some instances when this will not be the case.
Residents will be issued a debit card instead if they had a balance due, received their Golden State Stimulus via paper check, get their refund via paper check regardless of filing method or have since filing their 2020 tax return changed their account information. Additionally, those that received an advance payment from their tax preparer or paid a fee to the tax service provider using their tax refund.
Debit cards will be issued to Californians based on the first letter of their last name, whether they received a GSS I or II payment and those who changed their account information since filing their 2020 tax return. The tax authority advises allowing up to 2 weeks from the issue date for the debit card to arrive by mail.
Around 95 percent of payments to the roughly 23 million eligible Californians are expected to issued by the end of the year.
| Recipients | Debit card mailing timeframe |
|---|---|
| GSS I or II check recipients (last name beginning with A – E) | 10/24/2022 through 11/05/2022 |
| GSS I or II check recipients (last name beginning with F – M) | 11/06/2022 through 11/19/2022 |
| GSS I or II check recipients (last name beginning with N – V) | 11/20/2022 through 12/03/2022 |
| GSS I or II check recipients (last name beginning with W – Z) | 12/04/2022 through 12/10/2022 |
| Non-GSS recipients (last name beginning with A – L) | 12/05/2022 through 12/17/2022 |
| Non-GSS recipients (last name beginning with M – Z) | 12/19/2021 through 12/31/2022 |
| Direct deposit recipients who have changed their banking information since filing their 2020 tax return | 12/17/2022 through 01/14/2023 |
Income limits for the Middle Class Tax Refund
The three-tier program, called the Middle Class Tax Refund, will benefit around 23 million California taxpayers, with the amount that each taxpayer gets determined by income and whether they have a dependent.
Under the tax rebate plan, Californians earning as much as $75,000 for individuals or $150,000 for joint filers would receive $350 per taxpayer, plus an additional $350 if they have at least one dependent. A single parent would therefore receive $700 and two-parent families would receive $1,050.
The amount would decrease to $250 per taxpayer for households making as much as $125,000 for individuals or $250,000 for joint filers, and to $200 per taxpayer for households making as much as $250,000 for individuals or $500,000 for joint filers. In both of these tiers, parents would receive an additional $250 or $200, respectively, if they have at least one dependent.
People making more than $250,000 or $500,000 for joint filers will not receive a rebate.
Eligibility for the California Middle Class Tax Refund
Besides meeting the California adjusted gross income limits mentioned above there are other some other requirements to receive the Middle Class Tax Refund.
These include having filed a 2020 California tax return by 15 October 2021. As well, in the 2020 tax year you were not eligible to be claimed as a dependent and were a resident of California for at least six months that year. Finally, you must be a California resident on the date the payment is issued.