The coronavirus pandemic has pummeled the finances of millions through lost income and plummeting investments. In response, the federal government is issuing up to $1,200 for individuals ($2,400 for couples) in stimulus payments for U.S. taxpayers with social security numbers.
But not all taxpayers will qualify for a stimulus payment, and some will only qualify for a portion of the entire payment. A LendingTree study examined all 50 states and the District of Columbia to find where a higher proportion of residents will qualify for the full stimulus benefit.
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
About the CARES Act and stimulus checks
The $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was introduced to the Senate on March 19 and was signed into law by President Trump on March 27. While the legislation offers a wide array of financial relief measures, Americans have closely followed news of the $1,200 stimulus, the Economic Impact Payment. Nearly half of stimulus recipients plan to spend the money on groceries and bills, an April 2020 MagnifyMoney survey found, and about seven in 10 “need” the money. Some qualified taxpayers reported receiving the money via direct deposit over Easter weekend.
Eligible taxpayers with a social security number can receive up to $1,200 for individuals or $2,400 for married couples, plus up to $500 for each qualifying child.
Eligible taxpayers who qualify for the full stimulus benefit include:
- Individual filers who reported less than $75,000 in income
- Joint filers who reported less than $150,000 in combined income
- Heads of households who reported less than $112,500 in income
Eligible taxpayers who won’t qualify for the stimulus benefit include:
- Individual filers who reported more than $99,000 in income
- Joint filers who reported more than $198,000 in income
- Heads of households who reported more than $136,500 in income
Those who fall somewhere between those thresholds will qualify for a reduced stimulus payment, as long as they filed taxes in 2018 or 2019 and they have a social security number.
Americans living abroad who filed taxes and have a social security number are eligible to qualify. Some immigrants, including green card holders and those who are in America on a work visa, may qualify if they filed taxes for 2018 or 2019, have a social security number and meet the criteria outlined by the CARES Act. Non-resident aliens (those who are neither U.S. citizens nor nationals and have passed requisite tests) and temporary workers, however, will not qualify.
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
Methodology
In order to rank the states where tax-paying residents with social security numbers are most likely to receive the full benefit of the stimulus package, we looked at IRS data. Specifically, we looked at the number of single tax filers with adjusted gross incomes under $75,000, joint filers with adjusted gross incomes under $150,000 and head of household filers with adjusted gross incomes under $112,500.
In order to estimate the number of joint filers earning under $150,000 we assumed that 50% of filers in the bucket of those earning between $100,000 and $200,000 earned less than $150,000. We assumed 12.5% of head of household filers in the same bucket earned less than $112,500. We then tallied up the total tax returns expecting the full benefit and compared it to the total number of tax returns. We ranked the states from highest to lowest based on this figure.
Data comes from the IRS and is for tax year 2017.
Here are the percentage of residents in each state and the District of Columbia getting the full stimulus check amount:
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51. Washington, D.C.
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 71.6%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 44.5%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 93.9%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 70.5%
Image Credit: dkfielding.
50. Massachusetts
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 85.3%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 61.6%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 93.1%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 77.9%
Image Credit: Sean Pavone.
49. New Jersey
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 85.5%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 62.6%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 92.4%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 78.2%
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
48. Connecticut
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 86.0%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 62.6%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 93.3%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 78.6%
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47. Maryland
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 85.0%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 63.3%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 92.9%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 78.9%
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
46. Washington
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 85.6%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 69.5%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 94.1%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 80.0%
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45. Virginia
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 86.4%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 68.1%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 94.7%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 80.3%
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44. California
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 84.6%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 69.5%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 93.3%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 80.5%
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
43. New York
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 84.7%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 69.9%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 93.6%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 81.4%
Image Credit: Eloi_Omella.
42. Colorado
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 87.9%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 70.2%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 94.3%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 81.8%
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41. New Hampshire
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 89.3%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 69.4%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 94.4%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 81.9%
Image Credit: DenisTangneyJr.
40. Alaska
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 87.7%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 71.2%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 94.3%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 82.3%
Image Credit: Chilkoot.
39. Illinois
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 88.0%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 70.9%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 96.2%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 83.1%
Image Credit: IanDikhtiar.
38. Minnesota
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 90.6%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 71.2%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 95.7%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 83.4%
Image Credit: Jacob Boomsma.
37. Delaware
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 89.0%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 72.3%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 95.8%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 84.0%
Image Credit: mdgmorris.
36. Hawaii
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 88.6%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 75.2%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 95.0%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 84.3%
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
35. Oregon
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 89.3%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 75.3%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 95.7%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 84.5%
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
34. Rhode Island
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 89.7%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 71.4%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 96.0%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 84.5%
Image Credit: iStock/Sean Pavone.
33. Pennsylvania
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 90.7%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 73.9%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 96.5%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 85.1%
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32. North Dakota
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 91.5%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 74.7%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 96.9%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 85.2%
Image Credit: ChrisBoswell.
31. Wyoming
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 90.2%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 77.1%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 97.0%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 85.3%
Image Credit: AnujSahaiPhotography.
30. Texas
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 90.1%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 74.6%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 96.8%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 85.4%
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
29. Arizona
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 90.0%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 76.9%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 96.6%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 86.2%
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
28. Georgia
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 90.5%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 74.5%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 97.4%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 86.2%
Image Credit: SeanPavonePhoto.
27. Florida
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 90.5%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 76.1%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 96.6%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 86.6%
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
26. Michigan
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 91.9%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 76.6%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 96.8%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 86.7%
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
25. Nevada
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 89.5%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 77.6%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 96.3%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 86.8%
Image Credit: Deposit Photos.
24. Utah
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 93.2%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 78.5%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 96.9%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 86.8%
Image Credit: AndreyKrav.
23. Wisconsin
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 92.6%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 76.8%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 97.4%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 86.9%
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
22. Kansas
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 93.0%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 77.8%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 97.5%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 87.2%
Image Credit: Ian Ballinger .
21. North Carolina
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 92.0%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 76.9%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 97.9%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 87.2%
Image Credit: Sean Pavone / iStock.
20. Iowa
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 93.5%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 78.2%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 98.2%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 87.5%
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
19. Nebraska
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 93.5%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 77.8%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 98.0%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 87.5%
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18. Vermont
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 93.0%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 77.5%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 97.7%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 87.6%
Image Credit: ” DonLand”.
17. Ohio
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 92.5%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 77.6%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 97.6%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 87.8%
Image Credit: Getty.
16. Missouri
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 92.6%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 78.9%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 97.6%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 87.9%
Image Credit: Getty.
15. Louisiana
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 91.8%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 76.6%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 97.9%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 88.2%
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
14. South Carolina
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 92.9%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 77.9%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 98.4%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 88.3%
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13. Montana
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 93.0%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 80.6%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 98.0%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 88.4%
Image Credit: prizrak2084 .
12. Indiana
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 93.4%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 79.3%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 97.9%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 88.5%
Image Credit: f11photo.
11. Maine
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 93.2%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 80.6%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 97.7%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 88.6%
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
10. South Dakota
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 94.3%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 79.5%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 98.6%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 88.6%
Image Credit: 7Michael.
9. Oklahoma
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 92.8%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 80.9%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 98.2%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 88.7%
Image Credit: Deposit Photos.
8. Tennessee
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 93.0%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 79.6%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 98.1%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 88.7%
Image Credit: NathanMerrill.
7. Idaho
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 93.6%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 82.5%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 97.7%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 88.9%
Image Credit: jlh_lunasea.
6. Alabama
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 93.0%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 79.4%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 98.7%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 89.1%
Image Credit: James Deitsch.
5. New Mexico
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 91.8%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 80.8%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 97.8%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 89.1%
Image Credit: Davel5957.
4. Kentucky
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 93.9%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 81.7%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 98.3%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 89.7%
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3. Arkansas
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 94.0%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 82.6%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 98.8%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 90.3%
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
2. West Virginia
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 93.9%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 84.8%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 98.6%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 90.6%
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
1. Mississippi
Percent of single filers earning less than $75,000: 94.5%
Percent of joint filers earning less than $150,000: 81.8%
Percent of head of household filers earning less than $112,500: 99.1%
Percent of all tax filers getting full amount: 91.5%
This article originally appeared on LendingTree.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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