Why don't I qualify for my stimulus check??

Question

I have done *everything* necessary in order to get my stimulus check, yet I am told that I don't qualify for one when I check the irs' phone recording and website calculator!

Single, valid SSN, sent my tax return on time... **I even got my regular tax refund in my bank really soon after, so it's not like they can't locate me to pay!!** I owe them *nothing*, got just over $3,000 adjusted gross income... I DON'T qualify as a dependent, cause I'm over 21 and living away from family.

I can't figure out which part I don't 'qualify' for! My only guess is the fact that I put my contract income on a schedule C-EZ instead of 305 cause those documents said I was *SUPPOSED* to if I earned less than a certain amount through contract income... even if they're stupid and presume it is my own business' income, it STILL qualifies!

Also, this line made me uncertain for a bit under the 'don't qualify' part of the irs site: 'Your net income tax liability is zero and your qualifying income is less than $3,000.' Well, the keyword is AND. I have 0 tax liability BUT I ALSO made over $3,000. I know of someone with this same circumstance who DID get the stimulus check.

I made just narrowly over $3,000, barely even to $3,100, but that SHOULD NOT matter either.

Can anyone figure out why I don't qualify? Please help!

Answer 1

You mentioned "contract income".  You reported the income on a schedule C.  There's the rub.  "Qualified Income" when you are self-employed (reporting on  schedule C or C-EZ), then it is the NET income that is the qualifying income - NOT your gross.

Your gross may have been over $3000, but if the figure, after deductions, was less than $3000 at the bottom of your form C-EZ, then you don't qualify.

Answer 2

Your tax liability was 0. You needed to have tax liability unless you were on social security.

It didn't matter what your income was.

Answer 3

Suggest you call IRS and discuss it.  Perhaps your NET income from self-employment income is not $3000 or more.  To make the calculation, take the net income from the Sch C-EZ line and subtract the adjustment for 1/2 the SE tax (ih the bottom section of Form 1040.  See if that is $3000 or more.

Answer 4

On $3100 self employment income, your se tax was $438.  Half of that amount is an adjustment that is subtracted on line 27 of your 1040, leaving you with only $2662 in se net income, which is below the $3000 of qualifying income required.

So if you calculated your reported se income to be just enough to get the stimulus check, you messed up and disqualified yourself.  If you really did make the $3100, no more and no less, then I apologize for my assumption.

Answer 5

You have to have at least of $3000 in "earned" wages.  If you made a mistake filing, you can always refile a corrected return.  Call the IRS: they actually answer the phone these days.

Answer 6

The IRS may have made an error, but it appears that your income may not qualify.

Your total AGI is over $3,000.  But is your net income from self-employment over $3,000?  My guess is  that it is not over that amount.

In which case, you do not qualify.