California Middle Class Tax Refund: Is There a New Payment Coming in 2026? Fact Check and Eligibility
Rumors are circulating on social media about a new round of the "Middle Class Tax Refund" (MCTR) for California residents in 2026. With the state facing a budget deficit, taxpayers are confused. We fact-checked the claims to determine if new payments are approved and who might still be owed money from previous rounds.
Benefit
In previous years, California issued inflation relief payments of up to $1,050 to millions of residents. Recently, viral posts have suggested a "New $1,200 Check" is coming. However, official statements from the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) paint a different picture. While no new broad stimulus bill has been signed for 2026 yet, there are still unclaimed funds from the last round.
Fact Check: Is a New Check Approved?
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Current Status: As of November 2025, the California legislature has NOT approved a new Middle Class Tax Refund for 2026. The state is currently dealing with a budget shortfall, making broad stimulus payments unlikely at this time.
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Viral Rumors: Reports of a "Fourth Stimulus Check" are largely based on misinformation or confusion with specific tax credits like the CalEITC (California Earned Income Tax Credit).
Are You Owed Money? (Unclaimed Refunds)
Thousands of MCTR debit cards from the 2023-2024 distribution were never activated. If you qualified but never received your payment:
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Check Eligibility: You must have filed your 2020 tax return by Oct 15, 2021, and met income limits ($250k for single, $500k for joint).
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Contact FTB: Call the Franchise Tax Board's refund support line to check if a card was mailed to an old address or if funds are waiting for you.
While no new "stimulus" is confirmed, eligible low-income families can still claim hundreds of dollars through the Young Child Tax Credit and CalEITC when filing their 2025 taxes.