Second batch of California stimulus checks sent starting October 24

On October 24, California began sending its second batch of stimulus payments to eligible residents.

Payments will take the form of a debit card issued by Money Network. The envelope will be clearly marked that the mail is not an invoice or an advertisement in the hope that the recipients will not throw it in the trash by mistake.

What the California debit card stimulus payment should look like when it arrives in the mail. Source: California State Franchise Tax Commission

In June, Governor Gavin Newsom signed California’s budget for 2022-23, which included direct payments of $350 to $1,050 for 23 million Californians, more than half of the state’s residents. Direct deposit payments began rolling out on October 7.

The state has a middle class tax refund information page, which includes a calculator to estimate your payment amount.

When and how will payments be issued?

Stimulus payments will be issued by the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) of California via direct deposit and debit cards.

If you received either of the previous two Golden State Stimulus payments by direct deposit, you will receive your middle class tax refund by direct deposit between October 7 and October 25.

Alternatively, if you filed your 2020 California tax return electronically and got a refund via direct deposit, you can expect to receive a direct deposit between October 28 and November 14.

Debit cards will be used to distribute the remaining payments. If you received the Golden State Stimulus by debit card, you can expect to receive a debit card for the middle class tax refund. All debit card payments will be sent by January 15, 2023.

The FTB expects 90% of payments to be issued in October.

For the latest updates on when you can expect to receive your payment, visit the Middle Class Tax Refund website.

Find out which states offer gas rebates and stimulus payments.

Middle Class Tax Refund Eligibility

Twenty-three million residents are expected to qualify for the middle-class tax refund.

To be eligible, you must have filed your 2020 state tax return by October 15, 2021 and have been a resident of California for at least six months in 2020. You must not be listed as a dependent on the return of someone else for the 2020 tax year, and you must be a California resident on the date your payment is issued.

Payments will be offered on a sliding scale, depending on income and tax status. Low-income filers with at least one dependent receive the highest payments.

Like the previous two Golden State Stimulus payouts, people earning more than $75,000 won’t receive the full benefits, but other details have changed.

Here is a breakdown of maximum payout eligibility:

• $350: people earning less than $75,000 per year
• $700: Couples who file jointly and earn less than $150,000 per year
• $350: Additional payment for families above who have at least one dependent

Income limits to qualify for the minimum payment:

• $200: People earning up to $250,000 per year
• $400: Couples who file jointly and earn less than $500,000 per year
• $200: Additional payment for families above who have at least one dependent

What else is in the inflation relief package?

In addition to stimulus payments, the $17 billion inflation-fighting package as part of the state’s broader budget includes a temporary suspension of state diesel taxes and assistance with rent and utility costs.

Diesel Tax Holiday

California’s budget package does not include a suspension of the state’s gasoline tax, which is the highest in the United States at 68 cents a gallon. The budget will, however, include a suspension of the state sales tax on diesel fuel for 12 months, beginning Oct. 1.

Other Benefits for California Residents

The budget contains a handful of additional measures to try to lessen the impact of inflation on residents:

• $1.95 billion for emergency housing assistance for qualified low-income tenants who applied for assistance before March 31
• $1.4 billion in funds to help residents pay overdue utility bills

The budget also includes a $14.8 billion infrastructure and transportation package, as well as more than $200 million in additional funding that will go towards reproductive health care services.

California’s new budget also provides universal access to health coverage for low-income residents ages 26 to 49, regardless of immigration status, becoming the first state to do so.