California Golden State Stimulus II Calculator
The California Golden State Stimulus II (GSS II) sent one-time payments of $500 to $1,100 to eligible 2020 tax filers. Enter your 2020 California Adjusted Gross Income, tax identification type, whether you qualified for the first Golden State Stimulus, and whether you claimed a dependent credit, and this calculator will tell you exactly how much you were eligible to receive and why.
What was the California Golden State Stimulus II?
The California Golden State Stimulus II (GSS II) was a one-time direct payment program signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom as part of California's 2021 budget. It was separate from the federal stimulus payments issued by the U.S. Treasury. Unlike the federal rounds, GSS II was funded entirely by California and targeted residents who filed 2020 state tax returns with a California Adjusted Gross Income between $1 and $75,000. Payments ranged from $500 to $1,100 and were issued automatically through the California Franchise Tax Board, starting in August 2021 and continuing through April 2022. No separate application was required; filing a qualifying 2020 state return was enough.
Who qualified for GSS II and how the amounts were determined
Eligibility depended on five factors: your tax identification type (SSN or ITIN), whether you received the first Golden State Stimulus (GSS I), whether you claimed a dependent credit on your 2020 return, whether your California AGI was between $1 and $75,000, and whether your wages were $75,000 or less. SSN filers who qualified for GSS I received $500 only if they claimed at least one dependent. SSN filers who did not qualify for GSS I received $600 with no dependents or $1,100 with at least one dependent. ITIN filers who qualified for GSS I received $1,000 with dependents and nothing without. ITIN filers who did not qualify for GSS I could receive $600 with no dependents or $1,100 with dependents. Filers whose income came entirely from Social Security, unemployment, disability, veterans benefits, or public assistance programs generally did not qualify, because those sources do not count as earned wages for this purpose.
How GSS II differed from GSS I
The first Golden State Stimulus (GSS I) was narrower: it paid $600 to SSN filers who received the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) and $600 or $1,200 to ITIN filers with AGI under $75,000. GSS II was broader and intentionally reached households that missed GSS I. The two programs were designed to complement each other: if you received GSS I, your GSS II payment (if any) was lower and only available if you had dependents. If you missed GSS I, GSS II offered a larger standalone payment. Together, the two programs sent roughly $12 billion to about two-thirds of California residents.
Receiving and troubleshooting your GSS II payment
Payments were sent via direct deposit to the bank account on your 2020 tax return, or as a mailed check if no direct deposit information was on file. Direct deposits arrived within 45 days and checks within 60 days of the FTB processing your return. The FTB sent payments in batches, and the schedule depended on when your return was processed. If you filed early, you likely received payment between August and October 2021. Later filers received payments through April 2022. The GSS II program is now closed. If you believe you were eligible and did not receive a payment, you should review your 2020 tax return for accuracy and contact the California Franchise Tax Board directly.
California GSS II payment matrix
| Tax ID | Qualified for GSS I? | Dependent credit claimed? | GSS II Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSN | Yes | Yes | $500 |
| SSN | Yes | No | $0 (not eligible) |
| SSN | No | No | $600 |
| SSN | No | Yes | $1,100 |
| ITIN | Yes | Yes | $1,000 |
| ITIN | Yes | No | $0 (not eligible) |
| ITIN | No | No | $600 |
| ITIN | No | Yes | $1,100 |
Official payment amounts from the California Franchise Tax Board. SSN = Social Security Number filer; ITIN = Individual Taxpayer Identification Number filer. All amounts are one-time payments.
Frequently asked questions
Is the California Golden State Stimulus II still being paid out?
No. The GSS II program ended with the final payment batch in April 2022. The program was a one-time initiative tied to 2020 tax returns, and no new payments are being issued. If you believe you qualified but did not receive a payment, contact the California Franchise Tax Board for assistance.
Do I need to report my GSS II payment on my taxes?
No. California GSS II payments are not taxable income at either the state or federal level. You do not report them as income on your 2021 or any subsequent tax return. They have no effect on your refund or tax owed.
What counts as a qualifying dependent for the extra $500?
You needed to have claimed a credit for at least one qualifying child or other dependent on your 2020 California tax return. The same rules that govern the federal Child Tax Credit generally apply: the dependent must be a qualifying child or qualifying relative who meets the IRS relationship, age, residency, and support tests. Only one additional amount was paid regardless of how many dependents you claimed.
I am an ITIN filer who qualified for GSS I but had no dependents. Why did I not get GSS II?
The FTB payment matrix intentionally excluded this combination. ITIN filers who qualified for GSS I and had no dependents received nothing under GSS II. The rationale was that these filers had already received a GSS I payment (typically $600 to $1,200) and GSS II's design prioritized those who missed GSS I or had dependents.
Does my income from Social Security or unemployment count toward the $75,000 AGI limit?
These sources can count toward your California AGI, but the issue is whether you had at least $1 of qualifying earned income. If your income came entirely from Social Security, unemployment, disability, veterans benefits, or public assistance such as CalWORKS or CalFresh, you generally did not qualify for GSS II because the program was designed for workers. However, if you also had any earned income (wages, self-employment) that pushed your AGI above $1, you could qualify as long as total AGI stayed at or below $75,000.
I filed jointly with my spouse. Does each of us get a payment?
No. GSS II issued one payment per tax return, not per person. A married couple who filed jointly received a single payment based on their combined 2020 California AGI and the other eligibility factors on that joint return.
What is the difference between California AGI and federal AGI?
California Adjusted Gross Income uses the state's own income and deduction rules, which differ slightly from the federal rules. For example, California does not tax some items that the federal government taxes, and vice versa. Your California AGI appears on line 17 of California Form 540. For most wage earners, state and federal AGI are similar, but they can differ for business owners, military personnel, or people with certain retirement income.