Double Stimulus for the Same Child

The IRS may end up sending double stimulus checks for the same child in cases involving divorced, separated or never-married parents.

In trying to reach as many people as possible, the IRS went back two years — to 2018 and 2019 — to pull tax returns and assess them for possible stimulus payments.

Whichever parent claimed a child on their 2018 or 2019 return might have received the $500 and the $600 checks.

When the other parent who did not receive the stimulus checks files their 2020 tax return, they may be able to claim up to an additional $1,100 per-child amount on their return if they qualify to claim the child as their qualifying child for 2020.

The eligible parent who claimed their child on their 2018 or 2019 return, in most cases gets to keep the original payment. The stimulus does not need to be repaid to the IRS.