Name: Stimulus update: $1,400 checks could come with new income limits, tax tie-in
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Stimulus update: $1,400 checks could come with new income limits, tax tie-in

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Congress is cutting the deadline close, with only weeks left to approve a second stimulus payment before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. Here's what you should know about a potential second check for 2020.There's mounting pressure for Congress to pass a new , and chaos is brewing. Although a bipartisan group of senators released a , it lacks a , despite the support of top leaders on both sides of the aisle. In fact, a growing number are vocally calling for a $1,200 direct payment to enter into the agreement before the end of the year.&nbsp;Meanwhile, other proposals could get adults $600 instead. Or a bill might pass in 2020 with no check at all, before . See? It's confusing.&nbsp;We're going to try to simplify with situation, starting with what's happening now, before answering some important questions about a second check, like ,&nbsp;&nbsp;(if ), and whether you could expect to&nbsp;. This story was recently updated.There's strong momentum within Congress for another direct payment to individuals and families. Although the&nbsp;&nbsp;that was crafted by Republicans and Democrats does not include a stimulus check, many of its supporters also want to see another direct payment go out to families. Some, like Senators Bernie Sanders, a Democrat from Vermont, and Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, say they will not vote for a bill that doesn't include a check -- they have .Next stimulus checks: What to expectEarlier this week, the White House proposed a counteroffer that includes a&nbsp;, plus another $600 per qualified child dependent. That would put some money in peoples' pockets, while also changing the ratio compared to the first check. By making adult earners and child dependents equal, families with more children would see a greater benefit than individual earners or married couples with no children.&nbsp;Democrats have already , which would eliminate the $908 billion plan's allocated money for unemployment benefits, a rate of $300 per week for four months.Still, here's a quick example under this proposal could play out:The uproar this week over a stimulus payment gives us reason to believe that if a bill like the $908 billion plan passes in 2020 with no check, there's ample support for a&nbsp;&nbsp;that follows spring's CARES Act more closely than the White House proposal above.&nbsp;got the first stimulus money at different times, . For example, people&nbsp;&nbsp;with the IRS -- an electronic transfer of funds into their bank account -- are expected to get their payment weeks before those who receive a paper check or&nbsp;. Here's a more detailed .If the eligibility requirements change with a second check, you and your family could find yourself with&nbsp;&nbsp;or less. For example, a new rule could potentially get you a bigger sum. But there may have also been changes to your life circumstances -- such as a birth or death in the family, starting a new job or becoming unemployed -- that might also&nbsp;. Here's&nbsp;. And here's&nbsp;&nbsp;you get.With the first check, the IRS was tasked to create an online registration and payment tracking tool, as well as a payment schedule for more than 160 million people. It took 19 days before the was delivered.&nbsp;The hope is that the process could go smoother and therefore faster with a second check. The tracking tool is already up and running, the system is in place and it's probable that the majority of people who qualified for a first check would also receive another.&nbsp;The timeline is constantly changing, but we've&nbsp;&nbsp;if approved before -- or after -- Biden's . Here's what you can do now to help .With the first round of checks, Congress set income limits based on your that set a line separating who did and . But that's just the beginning. Your status as a or , and your &nbsp;status are among the factors that also helped decide if you got all or some of the first check -- and those things will likely also affect the second. Read .Guess what? from the first stimulus check payout. It may be that for , or that an (this really happened). Or it could be that you fell through the cracks with your personal situation, that you didn't think you qualified but you actually do and just need to take an extra step, or that some other error kept you from getting the total amount you were entitled to. Since , you'll now need to wait until tax season in 2021 to register for a payment from the IRS. Stay tuned for more information as we get closer.Predicting what your payment could end up being isn't straightforward. The IRS used a&nbsp;&nbsp;for the first check. Something similar for a second payment would determine whether you receive the full amount, a partial payment or&nbsp;.It also explains how you might still be able to get some stimulus money even if your family's yearly income exceeds the limit set out by the&nbsp;&nbsp;in March. The calculation starts with your household's total&nbsp;, adds on the money allotted to qualifying dependents and then deducts from the total based on your income bracket (as defined by the CARES Act).&nbsp;While&nbsp;, you don't need to have filed a tax return to qualify for a check. If you're over age 65, for example, and receive&nbsp;, you could still qualify for a stimulus check under the CARES Act. You might need to take an extra step to request your payment&nbsp;&nbsp;to get your check.The IRS . That means a payment you get this year won't reduce your refund in 2021 or increase the amount you owe when you file your 2020 tax return. You also won't have to repay part of your stimulus check if you qualify for a lower amount in 2021. The IRS said if you this year, you can claim it as a credit on your 2020 federal income tax return by filing in 2021.If a second stimulus check is approved, there will be lots of small details, rules and exceptions that may be confusing. While some situations will be easy to understand, others concerning you and your dependents might make it unclear if you're eligible and how much money you might receive because there are many fringe cases. For example: Certain , such as if you recently moved. In most cases, your check is yours&nbsp;&nbsp;and it isn't taxable. But there are a few situations where the federal government or a debt collector can&nbsp;, such as if you&nbsp;.For more information about stimulus payments, you can check in on what's happening , find out what and see&nbsp;.

Congress is cutting the deadline close, with only weeks left to approve a second stimulus payment before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. Here's what you should know about a potential second check for 2020.There's mounting pressure for Congress to pass a new , and chaos is brewing. Although a bipartisan group of senators released a , it lacks a , despite the support of top leaders on both sides of the aisle. In fact, a growing number are vocally calling for a $1,200 direct payment to enter into the agreement before the end of the year.&nbsp;Meanwhile, other proposals could get adults...

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Clifford Colby

CNET, formerly Computer Network, is an American media website that publishes reviews, news, articles, blogs, podcasts, and videos on technology and consumer electronics globally. Founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition in 2008.

Stimulus update: $1,400 checks could come with new income limits, tax tie-in

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