Never received your California Middle Class Tax refund payment? Some people in California who have been left out will finally be getting their inflation relief payments this month. The Franchise Tax Board confirmed that 5,000 payments will be issued by the end of September for those who were never issued a payment. “Although FTB issued the vast majority of all payments by late January this year, we have continued to issue first-time payments based on updated address information and for taxpayers who contacted us to review their eligibility,” FTB spokesperson Andrew LePage said in a statement. He said that going forward there may still be occasional cases where people could be reissued payments, like if someone lost their debit card or their payment to a previous address was returned and the person reported their new address. The Middle Class Tax Refund was a one-time payment approved by lawmakers in 2022 to provide relief for eligible Californians amid high gas prices. About $9.2 billion in payments have been issued so far, including 7.2 million direct deposits and 9.6 million debit cards. Where things stand on issues with MCTR debit cards As of earlier this month, 87% of MCTR debit cards have been activated, though people have spent less than half of the $4.6 billion that was loaded on the cards, according to the FTB. The FTB says the cards will expire in April 2026 and that it has sent several letters this year reminding debit card recipients to activate their cards if they haven’t done so. KCRA 3 has documented problems with the MCTR’s program that have ranged from concerns of debit card fraud to trouble accessing customer support from the vendor used to provide the debit card payments, Money Network, and concerns by those left out of the program. The California State Auditor is looking into issues with the administration of the refunds. The FTB’s contract with Money Network requires a fraud prevention rate of at least 99%. The agency has previously said Money Network meets the terms of its contract. Asked for an updated estimate of fraud reports this week, FTB said it was “following the industry best practice of not commenting on fraud levels or divulging any information that might be helpful to bad actors.”
Never received your California Middle Class Tax refund payment? Some people in California who have been left out will finally be getting their inflation relief payments this month.
The Franchise Tax Board confirmed that 5,000 payments will be issued by the end of September for those who were never issued a payment.
“Although FTB issued the vast majority of all payments by late January this year, we have continued to issue first-time payments based on updated address information and for taxpayers who contacted us to review their eligibility,” FTB spokesperson Andrew LePage said in a statement.
He said that going forward there may still be occasional cases where people could be reissued payments, like if someone lost their debit card or their payment to a previous address was returned and the person reported their new address.
The Middle Class Tax Refund was a one-time payment approved by lawmakers in 2022 to provide relief for eligible Californians amid high gas prices. About $9.2 billion in payments have been issued so far, including 7.2 million direct deposits and 9.6 million debit cards.
Where things stand on issues with MCTR debit cards
As of earlier this month, 87% of MCTR debit cards have been activated, though people have spent less than half of the $4.6 billion that was loaded on the cards, according to the FTB.
The FTB says the cards will expire in April 2026 and that it has sent several letters this year reminding debit card recipients to activate their cards if they haven’t done so.
KCRA 3 has documented problems with the MCTR’s program that have ranged from concerns of debit card fraud to trouble accessing customer support from the vendor used to provide the debit card payments, Money Network, and concerns by those left out of the program. The California State Auditor is looking into issues with the administration of the refunds.
The FTB’s contract with Money Network requires a fraud prevention rate of at least 99%. The agency has previously said Money Network meets the terms of its contract.
Asked for an updated estimate of fraud reports this week, FTB said it was “following the industry best practice of not commenting on fraud levels or divulging any information that might be helpful to bad actors.”
FAQs
The Middle Class Tax Refund was a one-time payment approved by lawmakers in 2022 to provide relief for eligible Californians amid high gas prices. About $9.2 billion in payments have been issued so far, including 7.2 million direct deposits and 9.6 million debit cards.
Is the California middle class refund legit? ›
If your client received a letter from the FTB that states “Activate your Middle Class Tax Refund Card now,” and directs them to call (800) 240-0223 or visit https://mctrpayment.com/, the letter is legitimate. The MCTR program distributed over 16.8 million payments to provide relief to Californians beginning in 2022.
Is the middle class tax refund the same as the inflation relief? ›
The state's Franchise Tax Board started issuing the Middle Class Tax Refund – commonly referred to as “inflation relief” payments – by direct deposit and debit cards in October 2022. By September of last year, the last round of payments had been sent out.
How do I know if I am getting the California middle class tax refund? ›
To be eligible, you must:
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.
Do I claim the inflation relief check? ›
Who is eligible for the $1,200 California Inflation Relief payment? Individuals who filed their 2020 taxes, lived in California for more than half of 2020, used an ITIN when filing, and have a California AGI of no more than $75,000.
Why California is urging people who got middle-class tax refunds to? ›
To prevent fraud, the Franchise Tax Board is urging Californians who receive their middle class tax refund on a Visa debit card to withdraw the money or transfer the funds to a bank account as soon as possible.
How much do you get for the California middle-class tax refund? ›
What you may receive
| 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 |
It has been confirmed that the states of Michigan and California will get new stimulus checks on May 15,2024. The programs offering guaranteed income will provide qualifying people with direct payments up to $500 and $528, respectively.
What if I never received my California inflation relief check? ›
If you believe you should have received your payment already but haven't, the FTB suggests contacting customer service at 1-800-542-9332. A customer service agent will help you confirm you qualify, explain what payment you'll receive and when.
What if I threw away my middle class tax refund? ›
How to Replace Your California Middle Class Tax Refund Debit Card. If you have lost or ruined your card in error, you can get it replaced by calling Money Network at 1-800-240-0223 and pressing option “3” for card replacement.
To access cash without fees, you may: Make purchases and request cash back at participating merchants accepting Visa debit cards. Withdraw cash by using the Money Network Locator to find in-network ATMs. Transfer funds to a bank account of your choice after activating and registering your card at mctrpayment.com.
What is the IRS position on California middle class tax refund? ›
As of 2/10/2023 the IRS has changed their guidance on these state tax refunds including the California Middle Class Tax Refund. You can review that IRS notice here. This income is no longer taxable and you will not report the amount on your federal return.
How to check California tax refund status? ›
To check the status of your California state refund online, go to https://webapp.ftb.ca.gov/refund/login. Then, click on “Check Your Refund”. You can check on refund status by phone: 1-800-338-0505 or +1 (916) 845-6500 (outside the U.S.) Weekdays, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can check on refund status by chat.
How can I find out when I will receive my inflation relief check? ›
Contact customer support at the California Franchise Tax Board at www.ftb.ca.gov/ for questions regarding payment, qualification or debit card activation.
- California Franchise Tax Board: 800-542-9332.
- Sacramento Office: 916-227-6822.
- Oakland Office: 510-622-4693.
If your household income in 2023 was less than $150,000, there is no income restriction. You will receive the entire $1500 benefit. If your household income in 2023 fell between $150,001 and $250,000, you will receive a $1000 benefit.
What is the inflation relief program for 2024? ›
By providing financial relief, CalEITC helps eligible families meet their basic needs and reduces poverty. To qualify for the $1,200 California Stimulus Checks in 2024, applicants must meet specific criteria: Tax Filing Requirements: You must have filed your taxes for the 2020 tax year.
Why do I receive California middle-class tax refund card? ›
Note: If the taxpayer received a refund advance from their tax service provider, or paid their tax preparer fees using their refund, they will receive the Middle Class Tax Refund payment by debit card.
Is the FTB legit? ›
If you receive a letter purporting to be from FTB or the IRS that appears suspicious, contact the FTB at 800-852-5711 or the IRS at 800-829-1040 to verify authenticity. Taxpayers may also check the “Letters ” webpage at ftb.ca.gov or the “Understanding Your IRS Notice or Letter ” webpage at irs.gov.
How to transfer mctr to bank account? ›
You will need the Routing and Account number for your bank account to complete the transfer. Transfer funds online at mctrpayment.com. Be sure you have activated your MCTR Card before attempting to transfer funds. Register for online access by going to mctrpayment.com and click on “Login” and “Register Now”.
Why is the IRS sending me a check instead of direct deposit? ›
You omit a digit in the account or routing number of an account and the number doesn't pass the IRS's validation check. In this case, the IRS will send you a paper check for the entire refund instead of a direct deposit.
