Get Your Family’s 2020 Stimulus Checks and Tax Refunds with an ITIN
Attention families of mixed immigration status!
The rules for receiving stimulus checks if one spouse uses an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and the other uses a Social Security Number (SSN) have changed. If one of the spouses in your family holds an ITIN and one holds a SSN and you did not receive the government stimulus money, your family is now eligible for the checks!
How can my family get the stimulus checks now?
Both spouses (the one with the SNN and the one with the ITIN) can file their 2020 taxes together and claim the stimulus money owed by using the Recovery Rebate Credit.
- If you have children, you can now also receive stimulus checks for each child with a SSN or Adoption Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ATINs).
- This can be thousands of dollars!
But really, how have the rules changed?
There were two rounds of stimulus checks released in 2020. The first round of stimulus checks was only available to people with SSNs and the second round is available to mixed status immigration families. Now the rules for the second round of stimulus checks apply to the first and families can receive both checks. See the details below.
Let’s look at some examples:
Example #1: Linda and Robert: Married and Mixed Status, no children
- Linda has a SSN and Robert has an ITIN.
- In the first round of stimulus checks, neither got a check.
- Now, when they file their taxes together, Linda is eligible for the first stimulus check of $1,200 and the second check of $600, totalling $1,800.
Example #2: Linda and Robert: Married and Mixed Status, new child in 2020
- Exactly the same as the example above, they will receive both of the stimulus checks retroactively, totalling $1,800.
- For their child, their family will receive $500 from the first stimulus check and $600 from the second totally $1,100.
- Remember, as new parents they are newly eligible for tax credits like the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) which can be as much as $5,500 depending on their income!
Example #3: Linda and Robert: Married and Mixed Status, three children
- Like above, Linda will receive $1,800.
- For each child the family will receive $1,100 x 3, totally $3,300.
- Remember, as parents they are eligible for tax credits like the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) which can be as much as $5,500 depending on their income!
What do I do next?
Locate each family member’s identification number and determine if your family meets the requirements above. If at least one spouse has a SSN, then you can receive stimulus checks!
Are you ready to file your 2020 tax return? Follow these 3 steps to claim your stimulus checks.
- Visit Let’s Get Set to estimate your refund by using the tax refund calculator.
- You will get matched with free tax preparation in your state. Make sure you file and claim your stimulus checks as the Recovery Rebate Credit.
- Get ready for tax-time by gathering your tax documents
Have more questions about filing as a mixed family with both SNNs and ITINs?
You are not alone. Approximately 4.5 million people file taxes using an ITIN.
Let’s Get Set is an organization that helps you match with free tax prep services to claim your full tax refund. For more guidance on the information above, schedule a free 15-minute appointment to discuss your situation in more detail.
Is your family also a military family? You are eligible for even more money!
Military families with mixed immigration statuses are eligible for even more money in stimulus checks now. Now, Here is how the rules have changed from round 1 of the checks to round 2 of the checks.
Round 1- If one spouse did not have an SSN but the other did, the spouse with the SSN could receive the stimulus check.
Round 2- If one spouse did not have an SSN but the other did, both spouses can now receive the stimulus checks.
Like the situation above, the new rules for stimulus check #2 apply to the first check retroactively.
Example: Linda and Robert: Married and Mixed Status, military family
Linda is an active member of the U.S. military and has a SSN. Her husband, Robert has an ITIN. When they file their taxes, Linda can claim the stimulus check from round one and they both can claim the stimulus checks from round two, totalling $2,400!
Special thanks to Jane Esslinger MIT MBA ’22 for her help with this post!
