Second Stimulus Check Calculator

Use this second stimulus check calculator calculator to understand your numbers quickly and make clearer decisions with confidence.

How to Use the Second Stimulus Check Calculator

The Second Economic Impact Payment (EIP2), authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (signed December 27, 2020), provided up to $600 per eligible adult and $600 per qualifying child under age 17. This second stimulus check calculator uses the exact IRS formula to determine your precise payment amount based on your filing status, Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), and number of qualifying children.

3D premium teal stimulus check calculator dashboard showing second EIP payment of $600 for single filer, $1,200 for married couple, with income phase-out indicators

Second Stimulus Check (EIP2) Calculator — Enter your filing status, AGI from 2019 return, and qualifying children for your exact amount

  1. 1

    Select Your Filing Status

    Choose "Single," "Married Filing Jointly," or "Head of Household." This determines your income threshold. Married filers receive $1,200 base ($600 × 2 adults); single and HOH filers receive $600 base.

  2. 2

    Enter Your 2019 AGI

    Use your Adjusted Gross Income from your 2019 federal tax return — found on Line 8b of Form 1040. If you filed a 2018 return but not a 2019 return, the IRS used 2018 data. If your 2020 income was lower, you may claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.

  3. 3

    Enter Qualifying Children

    Count children who were under age 17 as of December 31, 2020, who qualify as dependents on your return. Each adds $600 to your payment and shifts the income cutoff higher by $12,000.

  4. 4

    Calculate and Read the Breakdown

    The calculator instantly shows your total payment, the adult amount, child amount, and any phase-out reduction with the exact formula used. A real-time AGI indicator shows whether you're in the full, partial, or zero payment zone.

The Exact Calculation Formula (IRS Official)

The IRS used a precise mathematical formula to calculate each family's EIP2 payment. Understanding this formula helps you verify your amount and plan for any Recovery Rebate Credit:

Step 1: Calculate Your Base Amount

Base = ($600 × number of eligible adults) + ($600 × qualifying children under 17)
Single, no children
$600 + $0 = $600
Single, 2 children
$600 + $1200 = $1,800
Married, no children
$1200 + $0 = $1,200
Married, 3 children
$1200 + $1800 = $3,000

Step 2: Calculate the Phase-Out Reduction

Reduction = floor(max(0, AGI − threshold) ÷ 100) × $5

Phase-Out Rate: $5 reduced for every $100 of AGI over the threshold (5% reduction rate). The floor() function means partial $100 increments do NOT reduce the payment.

Single
$75,000
full payment threshold
Head of Household
$112,500
full payment threshold
Married Filing Jointly
$150,000
full payment threshold

Step 3: Final Payment

Payment = max($0, Base − Reduction)

The payment can never be negative — if the reduction exceeds the base, the payment is $0. Payments were non-taxable and did not affect eligibility for SNAP, Medicaid, or other federal benefit programs.

Income Phase-Out by Filing Status

The second stimulus check phase-out works at a rate of $5 per $100 of additional income above the threshold. Here's a complete reference table showing payment amounts at key income levels:

Chart showing second stimulus check phase-out by filing status: single phases out $75K-$87K, HOH $112.5K-$124.5K, married $150K-$174K, with +$12K per qualifying child

EIP2 phase-out curves by filing status — each qualifying child adds $600 to base and $12,000 to the cutoff

AGI (Single)AGI (HOH)AGI (Married)Payment (No Children)
≤ $75,000≤ $112,500≤ $150,000$600 / $600 / $1,200
$76,000$113,500$151,000$550 / $550 / $1,150
$78,000$115,500$153,000$450 / $450 / $1,050
$80,000$117,500$155,000$350 / $350 / $950
$82,000$119,500$157,000$250 / $250 / $850
$84,000$121,500$159,000$150 / $150 / $750
$86,000$123,500$161,000$50 / $50 / $650
≥ $87,000≥ $124,500≥ $174,000$0 / $0 / $0

Shown for Single / Head of Household / Married (no children). Add +$600/child and +$12,000 to cutoff per qualifying child.

Qualifying Children: Who Counts Under EIP2?

Not all children count for the stimulus check. The EIP2 uses the same qualifying child rules as the Child Tax Credit. A child qualifies if ALL of the following are true:

✅
Age: Under age 17 as of December 31, 2020 (born January 1, 2004 or later)
✅
Relationship: Your child, stepchild, foster child, sibling, stepsibling, or descendant of any of these
✅
Dependent: You claim them as a dependent on your federal tax return for 2019 (or 2018 if 2019 was not filed)
✅
Residency: Lived with you for more than half of the year
✅
Support: Did not provide more than half of their own financial support
✅
Social Security Number: Has a valid SSN (children with ITIN did NOT qualify for EIP2, unlike EIP1)
❌
Age 17+: Children who turned 17 in 2020 did NOT qualify — the cutoff is strictly under 17
❌
Adult dependents: College students claimed as dependents and elderly parents as dependents did NOT qualify as qualifying children

💡 Impact of Each Qualifying Child

Each qualifying child: (1) adds $600 to your base payment, and (2) shifts your income cutoff higher by $12,000. Example: Single with 1 child — full payment below $75,000, zero payment above $99,000 (not $87,000). Use the calculator above to see exactly how each child affects your amount.

Recovery Rebate Credit: Claim What You Missed

The second stimulus check was technically an advance payment of a 2020 tax credit — the Recovery Rebate Credit. This means if you received less than you were entitled to, or received nothing, you could claim the difference on your 2020 federal income tax return (Form 1040, Line 30).

📉 Lower 2020 Income

If your 2020 AGI was lower than your 2019 AGI (job loss, reduced hours, retirement), you may qualify for a larger payment based on 2020 income.

2019 AGI: $90,000 (received $0). 2020 AGI: $72,000 → qualifies for full $600.

👶 New Baby in 2020

If you had a child born in 2020, they were not counted in the 2019 return used for the advance payment. Claim the extra $600 per new child via the Recovery Rebate Credit.

Baby born March 2020: Claim additional $600 on 2020 return.

📝 Did Not File 2019

Non-filers who did not submit a return or use the IRS Non-Filer portal may not have received EIP2. Filing a 2020 return with the Recovery Rebate Credit remedies this.

No 2018 or 2019 return filed → file 2020 return and claim full $600/$1,200.

💍 Changed Filing Status

If you married in 2020 (single in 2019, married in 2020), your combined 2020 filing may qualify for $1,200 instead of two $600 singles — or vice versa for divorced couples.

Married Dec 2020: MFJ 2020 return may show different amount than two separate 2019 singles.

Real-World Examples by Household Type

HouseholdAGIBaseReductionPayment
Single, no children$60,000$600$0$600
Single, no children$80,000$600$250$350
Single, no children$88,000$600$600+$0
Single, 2 children$90,000$1,800$750$1,050
Head of Household, 1 child$112,500$1,200$0$1,200
Head of Household, 1 child$120,000$1,200$375$825
Married, no children$150,000$1,200$0$1,200
Married, 2 children$160,000$2,400$500$1,900
Married, 2 children$198,000$2,400$2,400$0
Married, 4 children$200,000$3,600$2,500$1,100

Frequently Asked Questions

🏛️How much was the second stimulus check per person?

$600 per eligible adult and $600 per qualifying child under 17. A single adult with no children received $600. A married couple with 2 qualifying children received $2,400 ($1,200 for the couple + $1,200 for children), subject to income phase-out.

🏛️What income makes you ineligible for the second stimulus check?

For singles with no children: AGI above $87,000. For head of household with no children: above $124,500. For married filing jointly with no children: above $174,000. Each qualifying child raises these cutoffs by $12,000.

🏛️Is the second stimulus check taxable income?

No. The second stimulus check was not taxable income and did not need to be reported on your 2020 tax return. It also did not affect eligibility for SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or other federal benefit programs.

🏛️What if I never received the second stimulus check?

If you were eligible but never received EIP2 (or received less than you were owed), you could claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 federal tax return (Form 1040, Line 30). The IRS allowed amended 2020 returns to be filed to claim this credit.

🏛️Does AGI include Social Security or disability payments?

For EIP2 eligibility, AGI is generally your gross income minus adjustments, as reported on your 2019 Form 1040, Line 8b. Social Security benefits are partially includable (up to 85% for higher earners). Disability payments vary by type — consult your 2019 tax return for the exact AGI figure.

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