Gillibrand urges people who lost job or added a dependent last year to file 2020 taxes right away

$1,400 in stimulus checks per child and adult dependent for qualifying families

Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging New Yorkers who added a dependent or whose income dipped under $80,000 in the past year to file their 2020 taxes as soon as possible, in order to qualify for the $1400 stimulus checks allocated under the Senate-passed American Rescue Plan.

Under the American Rescue Plan, individuals that make under $80,000 and couples that make under $160,000 qualify for stimulus checks and will receive additional $1,400 checks per child and adult dependent.

In addition, filers must be under the income threshold to qualify for the dependent checks. Because the IRS determines eligibility using an individual’s most recently filed federal taxes, it is critical that individuals file their federal taxes as soon as possible, especially if a drop in income level has dropped them into the qualifying range for checks, or if they have had a child or added a dependent.

“I am urging New Yorkers who added a dependent or whose income dipped under $80,000 last year to file their federal taxes as soon as possible to ensure they receive every cent allocated to them under the American Rescue Plan,” said Senator Gillibrand. “If your income level dropped you into the qualifying range, or you had a child or added a dependent, you may qualify for stimulus checks, even if you didn’t qualify last time around. File your taxes and receive relief—it is both simple and extremely important.”