How to Replace Your California Middle Class Tax Refund Card If You Discarded It

Thousands of Californians unknowingly threw away their middle class tax refund payments thinking they were spam or junk mail. If you’re among those who discarded your refund card, there’s good news—you can have it replaced. The issue stems from a widespread misunderstanding of how the state delivers these payments, combined with the appearance of official government correspondence that can look surprisingly similar to promotional material.

Between October 2022 and early 2023, California’s Franchise Tax Board distributed over $7.5 billion in middle class tax refunds to approximately 23 million eligible residents. The distribution included roughly 6.9 million direct deposit transfers and nearly 6.9 million debit card payments. However, a significant portion of recipients who received physical debit cards never activated them—some simply threw them away, convinced the envelope contained an advertisement or scam.

Understanding Why Cardholders Mistook Their Refunds for Spam

The confusion is understandable. The debit cards arrive in plain envelopes with minimal branding, making them easy to overlook or dismiss. Many residents simply weren’t expecting a government payment to arrive as a prepaid card rather than a traditional check or direct bank transfer. Without proper awareness of how the middle class tax refund program operated, even financially savvy Californians tossed unopened envelopes into the trash.

According to the state’s official guidance, the cards do arrive in envelopes marked “Not a bill or an advertisement. Important information about your Middle Class Tax Refund,” with the return address showing a post office box in Omaha, Nebraska. However, the modest presentation and formal government language can still easily be mistaken for routine correspondence by households receiving dozens of pieces of mail weekly.

How to Identify Your Middle Class Tax Refund Card

If you’re unsure whether you actually received your card, knowing what to look for is the first step. The envelope should clearly state it contains information about your middle class tax refund. Inside, the actual debit card may or may not feature an EMV security chip—both versions are legitimate. The card itself functions like any standard prepaid debit card, accessible for withdrawals and purchases once activated.

The refund amounts vary based on your 2020 adjusted gross income (AGI) and filing status. Married couples with multiple dependents earning less than $150,000 annually could receive the maximum $1,050. Single filers earning up to $250,000 and joint filers earning up to $500,000 qualify for at least a partial middle class tax refund, though individuals exceeding these income thresholds receive nothing.

Replacing Your Discarded or Lost Card

If you’ve already destroyed your card or genuinely lost it, recovery is straightforward. Contact Money Network, the financial services company coordinating the debit card distribution, at 1-800-240-0223. Select option “3” when prompted to request a replacement card. Money Network’s customer service team will verify your identity and process the replacement, typically arriving within 7-10 business days.

For general questions about your middle class tax refund account or help activating an existing card, you can also reach Money Network’s support line at 1-800-542-9332 or use their online chat portal at mctrpayment.com.

Confirming Your Eligibility

Not all California residents received their middle class tax refund via debit card. The state distributed cards specifically to those who:

• Filed a paper tax return in 2020
• Had a tax liability balance due
• Received previous Golden State Stimulus payments by check
• Got their standard tax refund by check
• Switched banks after receiving their 2020 refund via direct deposit
• Used a tax preparation service that collected fees from their refund

If you fall into one of these categories and believe you should have received a middle class tax refund card, visit taxrefund.ca.gov to use the state’s eligibility verification tool. This calculator helps you determine whether you qualified and estimates the refund amount you should have received based on your 2020 income and filing details.

The middle class tax refund program represented the largest single relief initiative in California’s history at that time. While the active distribution phase concluded years ago, eligible residents can still recover unredeemed cards through Money Network’s replacement process.