So why are people calling it an advance refund? Does that mean the government is taking away my refund next year?
This is the question seeming to
cause the most panic on Twitter. The answer is no. Bottom line: your 2020 tax return and any refund you’re due when you file that return in early 2021 will not be affected by the check you’re getting now.
Assuming you get the full stimulus payment now, you won’t get it again, No double dipping.
Does the stimulus money count as taxable income?
No. The stimulus checks are nontaxable; they will not be included in your 2020 income. They’re officially addressed in the CARES Act as a “Recovery Rebate for Individuals.” These payments won’t push you up into the next tax bracket for 2020 taxes, if you’re already on the edge.
“Your taxes aren’t going up next year because of this package — there’s no big income tax changes in the CARES Act,” says Bill Smith, Managing Director for CBIZ MHM's national tax office, a nationwide financial services firm.
What if I make more money this year and don’t qualify for what I received—do I have to pay it back?
Another big worry for people. But the good news is that the answer is no.
Here’s what that could look like: You’re an individual with no children who made $60,000 in 2019, so you qualify for the full $1,200 stimulus check. In 2020, you end up making $85,000, which puts you in the phaseout range, meaning you technically are eligible for a $700 stimulus payment. You do not need to pay back the additional $500.
Source:
Don’t Worry. The $1,200 Stimulus Payment Won’t Cut Into Your Tax Refund Next April