Resources: Previous Tax Years
What you should know about California's Middle Class Tax Refund (MCTR), which is eligible to Californians who filed their 2020 tax return.
Updated 10/17/2022
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Are you eligible for the Middle Class Tax Refund?
Starting on October 7, the State of California Franchise Tax Board began distributing the Middle Class Tax Refund (MCTR) payments to eligible Californians who filed their 2020 tax return by Oct 15, 2021; payments will continue to be distributed up until January 2023.
The MCTR is a one-time payment that was developed by our California legislators (via CA Assembly Bill 192 on June 30, 2022) to help provide economic relief to eligible California taxpayers.
To be eligible, you must:
- Have filed your 2020 tax return by October 15, 2021
- Have an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on your 2020 CA tax return, that is:
- If filing as Head of household, qualifying widow(er), Married/Registered Domestic Partner (RDP) filing jointly: $500,000 or less
- If filing as Single or Married/Registered Domestic Partner (RDP) filing separately: $250,000 or less
- Not have been eligible to be claimed as a dependent in 2020
- Have been a resident of California for at least 6 months during the 2020 tax year
- Be a California resident on the date the payment is issued
Note for ITIN filers:
- If you applied for an ITIN number but did not receive it by Oct. 15, 2021, you are still eligible if you filed your 2020 return on or before Feb. 15, 2022.
What you may receive
If you are eligible, the amount you receive will differ depending on your filing status in 2020, your total Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), and whether you claimed a dependent or not for that tax year. You did not have to have a dependent in 2020 to qualify for this refund.
Refer to the tables below to determine your payment amount.
Married/Registered Domestic Partner (RDP) filing jointly
| CA AGI reported on your 2020 tax return | Payment with dependent | Payment without dependent |
|---|---|---|
| $150,000 or less | $1,050 | $700 |
| $150,001 to $250,000 | $750 | $500 |
| $250,001 to $500,000 | $600 | $400 |
| $500,001 or more | Not qualified | Not qualified |
Head of household or qualifying widow(er)
| CA AGI reported on your 2020 tax return | Payment with dependent | Payment without dependent |
|---|---|---|
| $150,000 or less | $700 | $350 |
| $150,001 to $250,000 | $500 | $250 |
| $250,001 to $500,000 | $400 | $200 |
| $500,001 or more | Not qualified | Not qualified |
Single or married/RDP filing separately
| CA AGI reported on your 2020 tax return | Payment with dependent | Payment without dependent |
|---|---|---|
| $75,000 or less | $700 | $350 |
| $75,001 to $125,000 | $500 | $250 |
| $125,001 to $250,000 | $400 | $200 |
| $250,001 or more | Not qualified | Not qualified |
To find your CA AGI, go to:
- Line 17 on your 2020 Form 540
- Line 16 on your 2020 Form 540 2EZ
What else you should know
Payments will be made either via a direct bank deposit or mailed debit card. Eligible 2020 tax filers, who e-filed their tax return and requested their 2020 refund via direct deposit, will receive their MCTR payment as a direct deposit October 7, 2022 through October 25, 2022. All others will receive a debit card via mail between October 18, 2022, and November 14, 2022.
To read more about the Middle Class Tax Refund, visit the State of California Franchise Tax Board website here. For Frequently Asked Questions, click here. To read about other CA state and federal tax credits you may be eligible to receive, click here.
If you did not receive an MCTR payment but believe you are eligible, visit mctrpayment.com.
