What is Recovery Rebate Tax Credit for 2020 all about?

by | Jan 28, 2021 | Tax credits, tax filing, Tax Payers, tax returns, taxes | 0 comments

What is Recovery Rebate Tax Credit for 2020 all about? The pandemic COVID-19 had created a huge adverse impact on the financial lives of the Americans. Initially, the US Government had issued a huge round of Stimulus Checks or Economic Impact Payments up to $ 1200 for each qualified adult in a household plus $500 for each qualifying dependent. Later on, another round of Stimulus Payments has been issued for the Americans according to which each qualified individual in a household would receive Stimulus Payment of up to $600. The eligibility of Americans to receive these Economic Impact Payments is based mainly on their AGI. The IRS would mainly have a look at the tax returns of the Americans for the year 2018 or 2019 for determining their eligibility to receive the Stimulus Payments. Under the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act, a different type of credit known as “Recovery Rebate Tax Credit” has been authorized. This implies that if an American is eligible to receive the Stimulus Payment or the Economic Impact Payment, but has not received the payment or has received an amount which is less than the total amount in the form of an advance payment for the tax year 2020 then it would be feasible to claim Recovery Rebate Tax Credit on the tax returns of 2020. Who would qualify for a Recovery Rebate Credit? In general, an individual would be eligible to obtain Recovery Rebate Credit if
  1. The individual was a US citizen or a resident alien of the US in the year 2020.
  2. The individual was not claimed as a dependent in the year 2020
  3. The individual has a valid Social Security Number issued for employment before the due date associated with the 2020 tax returns.
The amount of Rebate Recovery Credit to be obtained can be calculated by the IRS in the same method which was used to calculate the Stimulus payment.
  • Any eligible taxpayer who has not received either one or both of his Stimulus payments would be able to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit while filing their tax returns for 2020 in 2021. 
  • There might be some individuals who would have experienced a life-changing event after the first round of Economic Impact Payment was made such as unemployment or birth of a child etc.
  • If an individual is single and has an adjusted gross income of less than $75000 and his Stimulus obtained is less than $1200.
  • If an individual is married and is filing his tax returns jointly with a gross income, not more than $15, 00, 00 and his Stimulus payment is less than $2400 then he can claim Recovery Rebate Credit.
  • If an American has not received $500 for every qualifying energy then he can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.
Information required claiming Recovery Rebate Credit In case, you have not received the full Economic Impact Payment and wish to claim more by the Recovery Rebate Credit on the taxes of 2020 then you would have to inform about the amount of Stimulus payment that was issued in the tax year 2020. A Notice 1444 is being issued by the IRS which reflects the amount that an individual was issued before any offences had happened in 2020. While filing your tax returns, an individual can have this form in front of him and do his taxes. Can a college-going student claim the Recovery Rebate Credit? If an individual is able to meet the basic eligibility criteria and has not been claimed as a dependent on his parents or anyone else’s tax returns of 2020, then he can claim the Recovery Rebate credit if he has not received the Stimulus Payment. If a college student has worked in 2020 and has federal taxes withheld from his pay, then he can get some of his withholding back either as a tax refund, claim the education tax benefits also increase their refund by the help of Recovery rebate credit. Recovery Rebate Credit – Way to claim the additional stimulus If you have not been able to claim the extra $500 for each qualifying child in your first Stimulus Check or have not been able to claim the additional $600 for each qualifying child in the second Stimulus Check then the additional amount can be claimed by the Recovery Rebate Credit. Conclusion Hence, in these challenging times of Coronavirus, the Recovery Rebate Credit would be a helpful means in increasing the amount of tax refund to be obtained by an individual or in decreasing the tax owed by an individual. Recovery Rebate Credit can be claimed on Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR in the year 2020.

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