California has been offering Middle-Class Tax Refunds (MCTR) to residents since October 2022. The one-time payments were created to help ease the burden of inflation and as of January 13, more than 16 million have been issued according to the Franchise Tax Board. However, there are still more than a million eligible residents who may be waiting for their checks, which can be for as much as $1,050.
To qualify for the MCTR, you must have lived in California for at least half of 2020, filed your state tax return by October 15, 2021, and still be a resident of California when the payments were issued. The eligibility requirements for the MCTR are based on the adjusted gross income on your 2020 California state tax return. Single taxpayers who earned less than $75,000 and couples who filed jointly and made less than $500,000 are eligible. The MCTR is not available to individuals who earned more than $250,000 in 2020 or to couples who made more than $500,000 combined, or anyone who was claimed as a dependent in the 2020 tax year.
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About 95% of MCTR payments were issued by the end of 2022, with the first round of direct deposits arriving before October 25. The remaining direct deposits were issued between October 28 and November 14. If you changed your banking information or never set up direct deposit, you were likely issued a Money Network debit card instead of a deposit. Cards started being sent out on December 17, 2022, and state officials expected to wrap up by the end of January 2023.
If you haven’t received your payment by February 14, it’s important to reach out to the FTB customer service line at 800-542-9332. It is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and there is also an online chat option available at mctrpayment.com.
The amount of your MCTR will depend on the adjusted gross income on your 2020 California state tax return. Single taxpayers earning less than $75,000 and couples who filed jointly and made less than $150,000 will receive $350 per taxpayer and another flat $350 if they have any dependents. Individuals who made between $75,000 and $125,000 and couples who earned between $150,000 and $250,000 will receive $250 per taxpayer, plus another $250 if they have any dependents. And, individuals who earned between $125,000 and $250,000 and couples who earned between $250,000 and $500,000 would receive $200 each.
If you didn’t file a 2020 California tax return, you won’t be eligible for the MCTR. However, you may still be eligible for other types of state or federal financial assistance programs.
The state of California has been providing MCTR to help ease the impact of inflation on its residents. If you are eligible, you could receive as much as $1,050. If you have not received your payment yet, reach out to the FTB customer service line for assistance.
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