The Golden State Stimulus plan allocates $600 or $1,200 to eligible residents in the state, but to receive the money, a person must have filed 2020 tax return. Payments are sent out bimonthly, and those who haven’t filed their return will have to wait up to 60 days after they file to receive a payment.
If you think your payment was stolen, the California’s Franchise Tax Board advises reporting it by using the online Fraud Referral Report. Those who still have questions about their lack of a payment are encouraged to contact the Franchise Tax Board. Along with mail and phone options, the website has a chat feature where people can communicate with a representative from the website between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
However, the Franchise Tax Board noted that people should give the agency 45 days beyond mailing time frames after they file for a refund, to allow for the payment to process.
If you filed a tax return before April 23 and haven’t received a payment, it may still be processing. The Franchise Tax Board says people who filed between March 2 and April 23 may have to wait up to two weeks for a direct deposit, or up to six weeks if they’re set to receive a paper check.
Payments to those who filed their 2020 tax return before March 1 started going out on April 15 and can take two weeks for direct deposit and up to six weeks for paper checks.
It’s also possible people haven’t received their payment because they’re not eligible. California’s stimulus checks aren’t as widespread as the three sent out by the federal government and are intended to help support low-income Californians and those who weren’t eligible for federal payments.
To qualify for California’s stimulus check, a person must receive the California Earned Income Tax Credit or file their taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and earn $75,000 or less. The CalEITC is limited to individuals who have a taxable earned income up to $30,000.
Eligible CalEITC recipients and those who file with an ITIN will receive a $600 payment. If you are both a CalEITC recipient and file with an ITIN, you’ll receive $1,200. Those eligible for the CalEITC but didn’t claim it on their 2020 tax return should amend their return immediately.
