{"id":2743,"date":"2025-08-15T08:44:36","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T08:44:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.luzenta.com\/blog\/?p=2743"},"modified":"2025-08-15T08:44:36","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T08:44:36","slug":"received-the-cares-stimulus-after-leaving-the-u-s-heres-what-to-do-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.luzenta.com\/blog\/received-the-cares-stimulus-after-leaving-the-u-s-heres-what-to-do-next\/","title":{"rendered":"Received the CARES Stimulus After Leaving the U.S.? Here’s What to Do Next"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, widely known as the CARES Act, was passed by the United States government in March 2020. Among its various relief measures, it included a one-time stimulus payment of $1,200 to help individuals deal with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. While millions of Americans rightfully received and benefited from the payment, a significant number of nonresidents and foreign nationals who were not eligible also received it in error. Understanding the eligibility requirements and reasons for such mistakes is essential to address this issue correctly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding the CARES Act Stimulus Payment<\/b><\/p>\n

The CARES Act stimulus payment, officially termed as the Economic Impact Payment, was designed as a financial relief tool to support taxpayers during the global health and economic crisis. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) administered the payment, issuing checks or direct deposits based on tax returns filed for the years 2018 or 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eligibility for the payment was determined based on several criteria. Primarily, it was available to those who met income thresholds, held a valid Social Security Number, and were classified as either U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or resident aliens for tax purposes during the 2020 tax year. The amount was phased out for individuals with higher incomes and was not available to dependents or nonresidents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eligibility Criteria for the Economic Impact Payment<\/b><\/p>\n

To determine whether you were eligible for the stimulus payment, it\u2019s important to examine the detailed criteria laid out by the IRS. These criteria include:<\/span><\/p>\n

U.S. Citizenship or Tax Residency<\/b><\/p>\n

One of the most fundamental criteria was being a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or a resident alien under the IRS’s Substantial Presence Test. Tax residency is different from immigration residency and depends on the number of days you were physically present in the U.S. over a specific timeframe. Being classified correctly was key to determining eligibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

Valid Social Security Number<\/b><\/p>\n

Individuals had to possess a valid Social Security Number issued by the Social Security Administration that was valid for employment in the U.S. Those with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) were not eligible for the payment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Filing a Tax Return<\/b><\/p>\n

Eligible recipients must have filed a federal tax return for either 2018 or 2019, unless they were receiving certain government benefits such as Social Security retirement or disability benefits. The IRS used information from these tax returns to determine eligibility and send out the payments.<\/span><\/p>\n

Income Thresholds<\/b><\/p>\n

The full $1,200 payment was available to individuals with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $75,000 or less. The payment amount gradually decreased for incomes above this threshold, and individuals earning more than $99,000 were not eligible.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Substantial Presence Test Explained<\/b><\/p>\n

To be considered a resident alien for tax purposes, non-citizens must pass the Substantial Presence Test. This test calculates the number of days a person has been physically present in the U.S. over the current and previous two years.<\/span><\/p>\n

To pass the test, an individual must be present:<\/span><\/p>\n