Second Stimulus Check for US Expats

Yes - another stimulus payment is on its way, and expats will be able to receive it too! Here’s what you need to know.

Are expats eligible for the second stimulus payment?

Yes – expats are eligible to receive the second stimulus check, just like the first one! Here are the requirements:

• You need to have a social security number
• You fall below the income threshold of $99,000 ($198,000 for married couples)
• You are up to date on filing your expat taxes (the IRS uses information from your tax returns to determine eligibility and send out stimulus payments)

How much is the second stimulus check for Americans living abroad?

The second stimulus payment is up to $600 (up to $1,200 for married couples), and is increased by up to $600 for each qualifying child. In other words, a family of 4 will be getting a payment of up to $2,400.

Is the second stimulus check taxable?

No, just like the first payment, the second payment is also not considered taxable income. It is an advance payment of the so-called ‘Recovery Rebate Credit’ which was introduced for the 2020 tax filing season.

The Recovery Rebate Credit provides a refund to taxpayers who did not receive the first or second stimulus payment. This makes sure that all taxpayers, including expats, can still claim their first and second stimulus payment by filing their tax returns during the 2020 tax filing season.

Many expats don’t owe taxes, which means that many expats will be getting large refunds during the 2020 tax filing season!

How can I get my second stimulus payment as an expat?

Just like the first stimulus check, expats can receive the second check by direct deposit if they have provided their US bank details to the IRS. This is typically done by filing a tax return, or by using one of the IRS tools which were launched for this purpose. If you filed your 2019 tax return and already received the first stimulus payment, you don’t need to do anything to receive the second.

However, if you did not file your 2018 or 2019 expat tax return, you should file your 2020 expat tax return when the filing season opens on January 27, 2021. As most expats don’t owe any taxes, the Recovery Rebate Credit will result in a pretty large refund!

Expatfile’s expat tax software is designed specifically for expats and supports the new Recovery Rebate Credit so that you can easily e-file your expat tax return and receive your stimulus payments!