Second Stimulus Check Calculator - CASH Act
Estimate the historical second Economic Impact Payment under the enacted \(600\) dollar rule and compare it with the proposed CASH Act \(2,000\) dollar scenario. Enter filing status, adjusted gross income, eligible adults, qualifying children, adult dependents, prior payment already received, and phase-out rules to estimate payment, proposal difference, and potential recovery rebate credit scenario.
Calculate Second Stimulus / CASH Act Scenario
Result
| Output | Value | Meaning |
|---|
Phase-out Table
| AGI | Enacted $600 estimate | CASH Act $2,000 estimate | Difference |
|---|
Formula Steps
What Is the Second Stimulus Check Calculator - CASH Act?
The Second Stimulus Check Calculator - CASH Act estimates two historical payment scenarios from the COVID-era U.S. relief period. The first scenario is the enacted second Economic Impact Payment, which was up to \(600\) dollars per eligible adult and \(600\) dollars per qualifying child under age 17. The second scenario is the proposed CASH Act approach, which would have increased the payment to \(2,000\) dollars per eligible taxpayer and dependent.
The U.S. Treasury states that the COVID-related Tax Relief Act of 2020 authorized second payments of up to \(600\) dollars per eligible adult and up to \(600\) dollars for each qualifying child under age 17. It also notes that the AGI thresholds were the same as under the CARES Act. ([home.treasury.gov](https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-american-families-and-workers/economic-impact-payments?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The CASH Act scenario is included because many people search for the \(2,000\) dollar version. However, the CASH Act calculator output should be treated as a proposed-policy comparison, not as the final enacted second stimulus law.
Second Stimulus Payment Formula
The enacted second stimulus estimate uses:
\[ Base\ Payment = 600 \times Eligible\ Adults + 600 \times Qualifying\ Children \]
The payment then phases out if AGI is above the filing-status threshold:
\[ Excess\ AGI = \max(0, AGI - Threshold) \]
\[ Phaseout = \frac{Excess\ AGI}{100} \times 5 \]
\[ Estimated\ Payment = \max(0, Base\ Payment - Phaseout) \]
The phase-out reduction of \(5\) dollars per \(100\) dollars above the income threshold is reflected in official second-payment FAQ language and congressional summaries. ([democrats-waysandmeans.house.gov](https://democrats-waysandmeans.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-waysandmeans.house.gov/files/documents/Second%20EIPs%20FAQ.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
CASH Act Proposal Formula
The CASH Act proposal scenario uses a larger base amount:
\[ CASH\ Base = 2000 \times Eligible\ Adults + 2000 \times Eligible\ Dependents \]
The calculator applies the same style of income phase-out:
\[ CASH\ Estimate = \max(0, CASH\ Base - Phaseout) \]
The proposal is treated separately from the enacted law. The CASH Act was passed by the House in late December 2020, but it did not become the final enacted second-payment structure. ([omnicalculator.com](https://www.omnicalculator.com/finance/cash-act-2020?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Income Phase-out Thresholds
| Filing status | Phase-out starts at AGI above | Base enacted adult amount | Base enacted child amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single / married filing separately | $75,000 | $600 | $600 per qualifying child |
| Head of household | $112,500 | $600 | $600 per qualifying child |
| Married filing jointly | $150,000 | $1,200 for two eligible adults | $600 per qualifying child |
Eligibility Notes
IRS Recovery Rebate Credit guidance says a taxpayer generally had to be a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien in 2020, could not be a dependent of another taxpayer, and needed a Social Security number valid for employment to be eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit. This calculator includes a simplified eligibility switch for educational estimates. ([irs.gov](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2020-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-b-eligibility-for-claiming-a-recovery-rebate-credit-on-a-2020-tax-return?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Actual eligibility involved additional details, including valid SSN rules, mixed-status households, dependent status, qualifying child rules, deceased taxpayers, and 2020 tax return reconciliation. This calculator simplifies those rules so the page remains usable.
Recovery Rebate Credit Context
The second Economic Impact Payment was an advance payment of the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit. IRS guidance says the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit amount is reduced by the amount of first and second Economic Impact Payments received. This calculator includes a field for “second payment already received” to estimate a possible remaining credit-style amount. ([irs.gov](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2020-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-b-eligibility-for-claiming-a-recovery-rebate-credit-on-a-2020-tax-return?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Worked Example: Enacted Second Payment
Suppose a single filer has AGI of \(75,000\), one eligible adult, and one qualifying child. The base payment is:
\[ Base = 600(1)+600(1)=1200 \]
Because AGI does not exceed the \(75,000\) threshold:
\[ Phaseout = 0 \]
Estimated payment:
\[ Payment=1200-0=1200 \]
Worked Example: Phase-out
Suppose a single filer has AGI of \(80,000\) and no children. Base payment:
\[ Base=600 \]
Excess AGI:
\[ 80,000-75,000=5,000 \]
Phase-out:
\[ \frac{5,000}{100}\times5=250 \]
Estimated payment:
\[ 600-250=350 \]
Second Stimulus vs CASH Act Scenario
| Feature | Enacted second payment | CASH Act proposal scenario |
|---|---|---|
| Adult amount | $600 | $2,000 proposal |
| Qualifying child amount | $600 under age 17 | $2,000 proposal |
| Adult dependents | Generally not included under enacted second payment | Included in proposal-style estimate when enabled |
| Status | Enacted historical law | Historical proposal comparison |
| Use in calculator | Actual second EIP estimate | What-if comparison |
How to Use This Calculator
- Select whether you want the enacted second stimulus, CASH Act proposal, comparison, or custom scenario.
- Choose filing status.
- Enter adjusted gross income.
- Enter eligible adults, qualifying children under 17, and adult dependents if using proposal comparison.
- Enter any second stimulus payment already received.
- Review estimated payment, phase-out, possible remaining credit, and CASH Act comparison.
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Why it matters | Correct approach |
|---|---|---|
| Confusing enacted payment with CASH Act proposal | The $2,000 version was not the final enacted second-payment law | Use enacted mode for historical law and CASH mode for comparison |
| Ignoring AGI phase-out | Higher income reduced the payment | Apply $5 per $100 above threshold |
| Counting adult dependents under enacted rules | Second payment generally focused on qualifying children under 17 | Use adult dependents only in proposal/custom scenarios |
| Forgetting prior payment received | Recovery Rebate Credit was reduced by payments already received | Enter the amount already received |
| Using calculator as active IRS claim tool | The payment period was historical | Treat this as historical education and tax-reference content |
Why This Page Does Not Include Exam Score Tables
A Second Stimulus Check Calculator is a tax-relief and public-policy calculator, not an exam score calculator. Score guidelines, score tables, and next exam timetables do not apply directly to this page. The equivalent useful material is payment formulas, eligibility notes, phase-out tables, proposal comparison, Recovery Rebate Credit explanation, and historical context.
Second Stimulus Check Calculator FAQs
What was the enacted second stimulus check amount?
The enacted second Economic Impact Payment was up to $600 per eligible adult and up to $600 per qualifying child under age 17.
What was the CASH Act proposal?
The CASH Act proposal would have increased the second-round payment to $2,000 per eligible taxpayer and dependent, but it did not become the final enacted second-payment structure.
What were the second stimulus income thresholds?
The phase-out began above AGI of $75,000 for single filers, $112,500 for head of household, and $150,000 for married filing jointly.
What was the phase-out formula?
The payment was reduced by $5 for every $100 of AGI above the applicable threshold.
Were adult dependents included in the enacted second payment?
Generally, the enacted second payment provided dependent amounts for qualifying children under age 17, not adult dependents.
Is this calculator for current IRS payments?
No. It is a historical calculator for the COVID-era second stimulus and CASH Act proposal comparison.
What is the Recovery Rebate Credit connection?
The second payment was an advance payment of the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, and the credit was reduced by Economic Impact Payments already received.
Suggested internal links: tax calculator, income tax calculator, budget calculator, stimulus check calculator, recovery rebate credit calculator, child tax credit calculator, and personal finance calculators.