Everything a Nonresident in the U.S. Needs to Know About the Second COVID Stimulus Payment
📅 January 5, 2021 · 6 minute read
💵 In December, the U.S. government approved a new Economic Impact Payment (EIP) under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, authorizing the IRS to send up to $600 per eligible person.
This was the second round of stimulus payments following the $1,200 CARES Act payment from April 2020.
However, receiving the $600 payment does not necessarily mean you’re eligible. Thousands of nonresidents mistakenly received the first stimulus check, and many may again receive this one in error.
If you do, you’ll need to return the payment to the IRS and correct your tax filings if necessary.
🧾 Quick Refresher: The CARES Act
The CARES Act was the first stimulus program in April 2020, offering $1,200 to individuals earning under $75,000 per year.
You were not eligible for that payment if you were:
🚫 A nonresident alien
🚫 A single filer with income over $99,000
🚫 A head of household with income above $136,500
🚫 A married couple with income over $198,000
🚫 A dependent child over 16 or a college student under 24
💳 Who Qualifies for the Second Stimulus Payment?
You’re entitled to receive the full $600 if you:
✅ Are a U.S. citizen or resident
✅ Earn up to $75,000 (or $150,000 for married couples)
✅ Can’t be claimed as a dependent
✅ Have a valid Social Security Number (SSN)
💡 Married couples receive $1,200, plus $600 per child under 17, with no limit on the number of dependents.
Payments are automatic for those who qualify — either through direct deposit or paper check.
🚫 Who Is NOT Eligible
❌ Nonresident aliens – If you do not pass the Green Card or Substantial Presence Test, you are not entitled to the payment.
❌ High-income earners – Individuals earning over $87,000 or couples above $174,000 receive no payment.
❌ Students claimed as dependents – Students 17 or older don’t qualify, and their parents can’t claim them for this payment.
❌ Unauthorized immigrants – Individuals without an SSN aren’t eligible, but mixed-status households (some with SSNs) may qualify under this round.
🧮 How to Know if You’re a Nonresident Alien
You are a resident for tax purposes if you pass either:
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The Green Card Test, or
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The Substantial Presence Test (SPT).
If you don’t meet either, you are a nonresident alien and not eligible for the stimulus.
💰 If You’re a Nonresident and Received the Payment
If you received the $600 check but are a nonresident, it’s likely because you filed your 2019 taxes as a resident.
1️⃣ Double-check your tax residency – Confirm whether you correctly filed as a resident for 2019.
2️⃣ If you discover you filed incorrectly, you must amend your tax return using Form 1040X.
3️⃣ Return the payment to the IRS immediately.
📬 How to Return the $600 Payment
If you received a paper check and have not cashed it:
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Write “VOID” on the back (endorsement area).
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Mail it to the IRS address for your state.
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Include a short note explaining why you’re returning it.
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Do not staple or bend the check.
If you received a direct deposit or already cashed the check:
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Send a personal check or money order to the IRS.
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Make it payable to “U.S. Treasury”.
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Write “Second EIP 2021” and your SSN or ITIN on it.
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Add a brief explanation and mail it to the correct IRS address.
⚠️ If You Keep the Payment by Mistake
Keeping the stimulus check when you’re not entitled can result in:
🚫 IRS penalties or interest
🚫 Problems with future U.S. visa or Green Card applications
🏠 If You Filed as a Resident but Now Live Abroad
If you were a resident in 2019 but are a nonresident for 2020, you are not eligible for the second payment.
➡️ In that case, return the payment to the IRS as explained above.