At the federal level, there has been little meaningful movement toward a fourth stimulus package, but several states, including California and Maryland, have implemented or plan to implement additional relief for state residents.

As part of the California Comeback Plan, Gov. Gavin Newsom recently proposed a $600 check for state residents with annual incomes between $30,000 and $75,000 and an additional $500 check for families with dependent children.

The plan has not yet been approved, but if passed, it would provide relief to approximately 11 million Californians (78% of state tax filers) using surplus state funds.

Californians making less than $30,000 a year, including many undocumented workers who are excluded from the national stimulus package, already received a $600 direct payment from the state earlier this spring.

Maryland has also already provided supplemental stimulus checks to about 400,000 residents under the RELIEF Act, a state law passed in February before the Biden administration's American Rescue Plan was approved.

Maryland's bill provided $300 to individuals who claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit and $500 to families with children based on the following income limits:

So far, no other states have announced plans to provide additional relief on a regional basis. In fact, several states (including Alabama, Missouri, and Tennessee) have reduced federal unemployment benefits. Since the Treasury Department has approved the use of federal aid to states provided by the American Rescue Plan for direct payments to residents,

it is possible that some states will follow California's lead.

However, California is in a unique position to provide state-level stimulus because of its $76 billion surplus. State law requires the government to return money to residents if the surplus exceeds a certain amount.

Yesterday (May 17) was the deadline to file income tax returns for 2020. (If you are not ready to pay your taxes, you can file an extension at any time as long as you are ready to pay.)

Direct stimulus payments (both direct deposit and paper checks) are being distributed weekly as the IRS processes 2020 returns.

Even those who have already received a third check may be eligible to receive additional amounts in the form of "plus-ups" if they file a tax return. These additional funds go to those who had less income in 2020 than in 2019, got married, or had more eligible dependents.