The $1.9 Trillion Covid Relief Bill (American Rescue Plan Act) appears headed to passing the House and Senate with at least the $1,400 per person direct checks to many Americans remaining in the bill. In the House version, the full payments will go to all filers with incomes under $75,000 Single and $150,000 Joint. The payments would begin phasing out at incomes above that until reaching $100,000 Single and $200,000 Joint respectively.

The Senate version lowers the eligibility numbers to $50 – 75K Single and $100 – $150K Joint. In either case eligibility will be determined by the most recent of your 2019 and 2020 Tax Returns. It recognizes that many people have not filed their 2020 returns yet.

Here in lies a planning opportunity for some people. If your income will allow you to qualify for the payment(s) in only one of those tax years, make sure that the lower income is the latest return you have filed.