Category: Innovation

Talks to pass a new economic relief package with a second stimulus payment won’t resume seriously until after Election Day, but we can help answer any questions you may have about the first stimulus check, such as how much money you could get for your child dependent as part of your larger payment.

Child support situations have their own eligibility rules that might affect parents on each side of that financial equation, and unpaid debts can lead to your state garnishing your stimulus check. On the other hand, some parents with joint custody who are divorced or separated may actually get two $500 checks per child; one for each parent. That isn’t an Internal Revenue Service error, it’s a result of the way the IRS defines eligibility (keep reading for an explanation). 

A second direct payment, whenever it happens, could be different from the first — here’s how. The rules on child

As negotiations devolve into blame over which side is holding up passage of the next stimulus bill, there’s no prospect of final legislation until after the Nov. 3 election. Still, evidence that the final bill will have a stimulus check is strong. Every major proposal we’ve seen, including presidential candidate (and former Vice President) Joe Biden’s, incorporates a second direct payment.

The next stimulus check, if approved, is expected to send up to $1,200 per individual and more for certain situations — here’s how the IRS determines your total stimulus check amount. We’ll explain all that, as well as how taxes affect your payment and why you might be owed more money from first round of direct payments. This story updates often.

Read more: Would you use your second check like these people?

A new check won’t come until after the election is over

Negotiators haven’t successfully narrowed their differences on a bill. Yet, both President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi remain hopeful that the final wording of a bill will be ready — one way

Let’s get through the bad news first. The Nov. 3 election is in less than a week away and time has run out to vote on a stimulus bill beforehand, though negotiations are continuing. Now for the good news. Every major proposal we’ve seen since May — including presidential candidate (and former Vice President) Joe Biden’s — includes a second stimulus check.

Where does this leave you? Waiting. And beyond that, armed with solid facts and educated guesses that can help you prepare for the debate — and maybe resolution — to come. If approved, the bill is expected to include a second stimulus check worth up to $1,200 per individual and more for certain situations — here’s how the IRS determines your total stimulus check amount. Keep reading to learn how taxes factor into your payment and to see if you might be due more money from the first round of direct payments. We updated this story recently.

Read more: Would you use your second check like these people?

A new check won’t come until after the election is over

Even if you received a stimulus payment earlier this year, you won’t necessarily be eligible to get a second stimulus check. It all comes down to what negotiations hash out in a final bill that includes a check in addition to other economic aid. 

The competing proposals over the last several months have hinted at change for at least three of the eligibility rules in a second round of payments, and if one is selected, your family could get more money than before. In one instance, an interpretation of the law may prompt the Internal Revenue Service to send out more payments to an entire group of people. 

Your dependents, the age of people in your household, whether you pay or collect or receive child support, your tax status and yearly income are some of the main parameters that could determine eligibility. Some people with dependents may find that they’re owed a catch-up check from the first round. 

Confused yet? We’ll do our best to clear it all up below. And for further reading, learn how the IRS calculates payment amounts. We recently updated

Just because you got a first payment doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get a second stimulus check, when and if it arrives. Throughout the long negotiation journey over the contents of a bill, there have been proposals that have changed at least one qualification twice. If the final stimulus package picks one of these competing views, that could affect your family for the better.

In one case, it hasn’t been a rule that’s changed since the first check was sent, but an interpretation of the law, which may cause the IRS to send out more payments. 

The rules and requirements can get dicey depending on who your are — including your dependents, the age of people in your household, whether you pay or collect or receive child support, your tax status and yearly income, among other factors. Remember that where you stand in terms of the finals qualifications will directly impact the size of your second check. 

The ins and outs of it all can be complex, but we’ll simplify the rules as we currently understand them. For a bonus round, here’s 

After the first stimulus payment was authorized by the CARES Act back in March, the IRS took the pool of qualifying people and created different priority groups, sending payments over the course of a few weeks and even months — some people are still waiting. A second stimulus check is expected to be worth as much as $1,200 per person (and more for dependents) and employ a similar priority group system. 

The timeline to reach the final stimulus package is still unknown. Negotiators remain optimistic that a deal will happen — but it chances are fading that the bill will become law before the Nov. 3 election, which is just over a week away.

“We are waiting for the final ‘yes,”http://www.cnet.com/” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday.

Below, we sketch four possible timelines for when a second stimulus check could go out, and explain how those priority groups work. This story frequently updates as news develops.

How quickly could the IRS send my payment to me?

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said it would take about a week to process the first