Skip to main content
Advertiser Disclosure
We do receive compensation from some partners whose offers appear on this page. We have not reviewed all available products or offers. Compensation may impact the order in which offers appear on page, but our editorial opinions and ratings are not influenced by compensation.

Ascent-logo

  • Credit Cards
  • Banking
  • Brokerages
  • Loans
  • Mortgages
  • Knowledge
  • Search Icon Click here to search

Credit Cards

Top Picks
  • Best of April 2021
  • Cash Back
  • Balance Transfer
  • Travel
  • 0% APR
  • Rewards
  • Bad Credit
Knowledge
  • Beginners Guide to Credit Cards
  • How to Rebuild Your Credit
  • Maximize Your Credit Card Rewards
  • Learn More About Credit Cards
Credit Card Tools
  • Compare Cards
Looking for a new credit card?

Explore the best credit cards in every category as of April 2021.

Get started!

Banking

Top Picks
  • Best Savings Accounts
  • Best Bank Accounts
  • Best Money Market Accounts
  • Best CDs
  • Best Checking Account Bonuses
Knowledge
  • Beginners Guide to Banking
  • Everything You Need to Know About Savings
  • Money Market Accounts Made Easy
  • Learn More About Banking
Looking for a place to park your cash?

Check out our top picks of the best online savings accounts for April 2021.

Get Started!

Brokerages

Top Picks
  • Best Brokers of April 2021
  • Best Online Brokers for Beginners
  • Best Options Brokers
  • Best IRA Accounts
  • Best Roth IRA Accounts
  • Best Robo Advisors
Knowledge
  • How to Open a Brokerage Account
  • Beginner's Guide to Brokerages
  • Learn More About Brokerage
Just getting started?

Explore our picks of the best brokerage accounts for beginners for April 2021.

Get Started!

Loans

Top Picks
  • Best Loans of April 2021
  • Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit
  • Best Loans for Debt Consolidation
  • Best Low-Interest Personal Loans
  • Best Personal Loans for Good Credit
  • Best Personal Loans for Fair Credit
Knowledge
  • Personal Loans Made Easy
  • Debt Consolidation Guide
  • How to Pay Off Debt
  • Learn More About Loans
Thinking about taking out a loan?

Before you apply for a personal loan, here's what you need to know.

Get Started!

Mortgages

Top Picks
  • Best Mortgage Lenders of April 2021
  • Best Mortgage Lenders for Poor Credit
  • Best Mortgage Lenders for First-Time Homebuyers
  • Best Refinance Lenders
  • Best VA Lenders
  • Best USDA Lenders
  • Best FHA Lenders
Knowledge
  • How Much Does Homeownership Really Cost?
  • 9 Tips for First-Time Home Buyers
  • How to Save for a Down Payment
  • How to Get a Mortgage with Bad Credit
  • Mortgage Refinancing 101
  • Should you Refinance in 2021?
Tools & Calculators
  • Mortgage Calculator
  • Mortgage Pre-Approval
  • How Much House Can I Afford?
Compare Rates
  • Today's Mortgage Rates
  • Refinance Rates
  • 15-Year Mortgage Rates
  • 20-Year Mortgage Rates
  • 30-Year Mortgage Rates
  • Jumbo Mortgage Rates
  • VA Loan Rates
  • 5/1 ARM Rates
  • 7/1 ARM Rates
  • FHA Mortgage Rates

Knowledge

Knowledge Section
  • All Articles
  • Credit Card Articles
  • Banking Articles
  • Brokerage Articles
  • Personal Loan Articles
  • Mortgage Articles
  • Personal Finance Articles
Recent Articles
  • Weekly Mortgage Demand Climbs 8.6% as Rates Fall

    Mortgages

    Weekly Mortgage Demand Climbs 8.6% as Rates Fall
  • Collecting Unemployment for a Year? You May Need to Reapply to Keep Getting Benefits

    Personal Finance

    Collecting Unemployment for a Year? You May Need to Reapply to Keep Getting Benefits
  • You Can Now Buy and Sell Cryptocurrencies on Venmo

    Brokerages

    You Can Now Buy and Sell Cryptocurrencies on Venmo
  • 3 Common Personal Loans I'd Never Take Out

    Loans

    3 Common Personal Loans I'd Never Take Out
  • The Ascent
  • Knowledge
  • Personal Finance

Are You Eligible for a 'Plus-Up' Stimulus Check?

by Natasha Gabrielle | April 7, 2021

The Ascent is reader-supported: we may earn a commission from offers on this page. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

A man sitting on the couch and looking at his laptop while his toddler daughter peeks over the top of the screen.

Image source: Getty Images

Those who hadn't yet filed their 2020 taxes when the third round of stimulus checks were sent out may be owed additional money if they experienced life changes.

President Biden signed The American Rescue Plan into law on March 11. This authorized a third round of stimulus checks for many individuals and families in the United States. In fact, a third stimulus check may have already been deposited in your bank account. But are you eligible for more money to be sent your way?

Now that many more Americans have filed their 2020 tax returns, the IRS is finding that they owe more money to some tax filers. That's because the IRS used the information from the previous year's returns for the payments, which may have resulted in lower check amounts for some people. Keep reading to see if you're eligible for a "plus-up" stimulus check.

Who's eligible for additional checks?

When the IRS acted quickly to send out the third round of stimulus checks, it relied on information from the most recent tax returns that were filed. For many people, that was their 2019 tax return. Now that more individuals and families have submitted their 2020 tax returns, they may be owed more money, as recently filed tax returns may reflect life changes.

The IRS is sending out additional checks to get people the money they are owed -- what it calls "plus-up" payments. You may be wondering if you should expect another check from the IRS.

Here's a look at who may be eligible for a "plus-up" stimulus check payment:

  1. People with income changes: If the income listed on your 2020 tax return is different than what was listed on your 2019 tax return, you may be eligible for another check. For example, someone may have had a 2019 income that was too high to receive the most recent round of checks, but their 2020 income is lower and now qualifies.
  2. People who had a child or added a dependant: If the child or dependant wasn't listed on your 2019 tax return but now is listed on your 2020 tax return, you may be eligible for another check. Many families had a child after filing their 2019 tax returns.

If either of these situations applies to you, you'll want to keep an eye out for your "plus-up" check. These payments are already starting to be sent out.

The pandemic has made life more challenging for many, especially when it comes to financial matters. If you're still struggling, check out our personal finance guide for helpful financial tips. There are coronavirus resources available that can help you better navigate this difficult time.

Top credit card wipes out interest until late 2022

If you have credit card debt, transferring it to this top balance transfer card can allow you to pay 0% interest for a whopping 18 months! That’s one reason our experts rate this card as a top pick to help get control of your debt. It’ll allow you to pay 0% interest on both balance transfers and new purchases until late 2022, and you’ll pay no annual fee. Read The Ascent's full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

About the Author

Natasha Gabrielle
Natasha Gabrielle

Natasha specializes in credit card and rewards content. Her goal is to encourage more people to experience the world around them while making smart financial choices.

Share This Page
Facebook Icon This icon shares the page you are on via Facebook
Blue Twitter Icon Share this website with Twitter
LinkedIn Icon This image links to share the page over LinkedIn.
Email Icon Share this website with email

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Ascent is reader-supported: we may earn a commission from offers on this page. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

Related Articles

Piggy bank and cash stacks image for How to Pay Off Debt

How to Pay Off Debt

Change on a desk image for How to Build Your Credit

How to Build Your Credit

A finger pointing to a Credit Rating scoring system on a screen with one through five star options. image for The Ascent's Definitive Credit Score Guide

The Ascent's Definitive Credit Score Guide

Pay Off Debt image for What Is Bankruptcy and How Does It Work?

What Is Bankruptcy and How Does It Work?

Featured Articles

How to Pay Off Debt

How to Build Your Credit

The Ascent's Definitive Credit Score Guide

What Is Bankruptcy and How Does It Work?


The Ascent Logo

The Ascent is a Motley Fool service that rates and reviews essential products for your everyday money matters.

btn_facebook-yellow btn_twitter-yellow btn_instagram-yellow

Copyright © 2018 - 2021 The Ascent. All rights reserved.

About The Ascent
About Us Contact Us Newsroom How We Make Money Editorial Integrity Ratings Methodology
Legal
Terms of Use Privacy Policy Accessibility Policy Terms and Conditions Copyright, Trademark and Patent Information
Learn
Credit Cards Mortgages Banking Brokerage Loans Recent Articles

By submitting your email address, you consent to us sending you money tips along with products and services that we think might interest you. You can unsubscribe at any time. Please read our Privacy Statement and Terms & Conditions.

Back to The Motley Fool