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Stimulus Payment Calculator

Calculate federal stimulus payments (EIP1, EIP2, EIP3) plus state supplements based on AGI, filing status, and number of dependents.

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How the Stimulus Payment Calculator Works

The Stimulus Payment Calculator applies the official Economic Impact Payment (EIP) formula used by the IRS across three rounds of federal relief authorized under the CARES Act (2020), the Consolidated Appropriations Act (2021), and the American Rescue Plan Act (2021). The calculation determines a taxpayer's payment by combining a base amount with a dependent supplement, then applying a linear income-based phase-out reduction tied to Adjusted Gross Income.

The Core Formula

The payment amount P is calculated as:

P = max(0, (B × A + D × d) × (1 − max(0, min(1, (AGI − T) / (C − T)))))

This structure guarantees the result is never negative and never exceeds the gross payment ceiling. The inner min(1, …) clamps the phase-out fraction at 1.0 so income far above the cutoff always returns exactly $0 rather than a negative value.

Variable Definitions

  • B — Base payment per filer: $1,200 (EIP1), $600 (EIP2), or $1,400 (EIP3)
  • A — Filing status multiplier: 1 for Single, Married Filing Separately, or Head of Household; 2 for Married Filing Jointly
  • D — Dependent supplement per qualifying dependent: $500 (EIP1), $600 (EIP2), or $1,400 (EIP3)
  • d — Number of qualifying dependents claimed on the return
  • AGI — Adjusted Gross Income from the applicable tax year’s Form 1040, Line 11
  • T — Phase-out threshold: the AGI at which the reduction begins
  • C — Complete phase-out income: the AGI at which the payment reaches $0

Phase-Out Thresholds by Round and Filing Status

Congress set distinct phase-out ranges for each round. EIP1 and EIP2 applied a 5% reduction rate ($5 per $100 above the threshold), while EIP3 used a steeper cliff with a much narrower income range.

  • EIP1 — Single/MFS: Phase-out begins at $75,000; payment reaches $0 at $99,000 (base) or higher with dependents
  • EIP1 — Head of Household: Phase-out begins at $112,500
  • EIP1 — Married Filing Jointly: Phase-out begins at $150,000; base payment reaches $0 at $198,000
  • EIP2 — Single/MFS: Phase-out begins at $75,000; base payment reaches $0 at $87,000
  • EIP2 — Married Filing Jointly: Phase-out begins at $150,000; base payment reaches $0 at $174,000
  • EIP3 — Single/MFS: Hard cutoff at $80,000 AGI (phase-out range: $75,000–$80,000)
  • EIP3 — Head of Household: Hard cutoff at $120,000 (phase-out range: $112,500–$120,000)
  • EIP3 — Married Filing Jointly: Hard cutoff at $160,000 (phase-out range: $150,000–$160,000)

Step-by-Step Calculation Example

Consider a married couple filing jointly with an AGI of $160,000 and two qualifying children applying for EIP1:

  • Gross payment: ($1,200 × 2) + ($500 × 2) = $2,400 + $1,000 = $3,400
  • Income above MFJ threshold: $160,000 − $150,000 = $10,000
  • Phase-out reduction at 5% rate: $10,000 × 0.05 = $500
  • Final EIP1 payment: $3,400 − $500 = $2,900

The same household applying for EIP3 would receive $0, because their $160,000 AGI equals the MFJ hard cutoff, yielding a phase-out fraction of exactly 1.0 and a payment of max(0, $5,600 × 0) = $0.

Dependent Eligibility Across Rounds

EIP1 and EIP2 limited the dependent supplement to children under age 17 as defined by the Child Tax Credit rules. EIP3 significantly expanded eligibility: any qualifying dependent claimed on the return — including college-age children, elderly parents, and disabled adults — generated an additional $1,400 supplement. This change roughly doubled the benefit for families with older dependents in the third round.

State Supplement Payments

Several states enacted one-time relief payments independent of the federal EIPs. California’s Middle Class Tax Refund (2022) provided $200–$1,050 based on AGI and household size. Colorado distributed $750 per qualifying adult ($1,500 for joint filers) through the TABOR refund mechanism. Maine issued $850 per eligible taxpayer. Georgia and Virginia each provided $250–$500 per filer. When the state supplement toggle is enabled, the calculator appends the applicable state amount to the federal total based on the selected state and filing parameters.

Methodology and Sources

Payment parameters are drawn directly from federal legislation and official IRS guidance. The phase-out formula follows the statutory reduction schedule detailed in IRS Economic Impact Payment guidance and the legislative record in Congressional hearings on Economic Stimulus Payments. Program administration context and phase-out rationale are further documented in the Taxpayer Advocate Service testimony on economic stimulus payment design. State supplement figures are sourced from each state’s official revenue or franchise tax board publications.

Reference

Frequently asked questions

What income level phases out the stimulus payment completely?
For EIP1, single filers with no dependents lose the full payment at $99,000 AGI; married filing jointly loses it at $198,000. EIP2 cutoffs are $87,000 (single) and $174,000 (MFJ). EIP3 applied a steep cliff: $80,000 for single, $120,000 for head of household, and $160,000 for married filing jointly, regardless of dependent count.
How much was each federal stimulus check per adult and per dependent?
EIP1 (CARES Act, April 2020) paid $1,200 per qualifying adult plus $500 per dependent child under 17. EIP2 (Consolidated Appropriations Act, January 2021) paid $600 per adult and $600 per dependent child under 17. EIP3 (American Rescue Plan, March 2021) paid $1,400 per adult and $1,400 per any qualifying dependent regardless of age, making it the most generous round for larger households.
Which tax year's AGI determines eligibility for each stimulus round?
The IRS used the most recently filed return when each payment was issued: 2018 or 2019 for EIP1, 2019 for EIP2, and 2019 or 2020 for EIP3. Taxpayers whose income dropped in a later qualifying year could claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their subsequent Form 1040 to capture any additional amount they were entitled to but did not receive automatically.
Do college students or adult dependents qualify for the $1,400 EIP3 supplement?
Yes, exclusively under EIP3. The American Rescue Plan Act eliminated the under-17 age restriction that applied to EIP1 and EIP2. Any person claimed as a qualifying dependent on a 2019 or 2020 return generated an additional $1,400, including full-time college students, permanently disabled adults, and elderly parents claimed by a caregiver. EIP1 and EIP2 paid nothing for dependents aged 17 or older.
Which states issued extra stimulus or relief payments beyond the federal EIPs?
Multiple states enacted supplemental payments: California's 2022 Middle Class Tax Refund paid $200 to $1,050 based on AGI and household size. Colorado issued $750 per adult ($1,500 for joint filers) via TABOR. Maine provided $850 per eligible taxpayer. Georgia and Virginia issued $250 to $500 per filer. Illinois, New Mexico, and Indiana also sent relief checks ranging from $50 to $400. Eligibility and amounts varied significantly by state residency, income, and filing status.
Can I still claim a missed stimulus payment, and how?
Taxpayers who did not receive their full EIP amount can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on Form 1040 for the applicable tax year: 2020 for EIP1 and EIP2, or 2021 for EIP3. The credit is refundable, meaning it reduces tax owed and generates a refund if the credit exceeds liability. Amended returns (Form 1040-X) are available for those who already filed without claiming the credit, subject to the standard three-year statute of limitations from the original due date.