2025 $1400 Stimulus Check: Eligibility and How to Claim Yours

More than one million Americans have yet to receive their $1,400 stimulus checks from the federal government. For those who qualify, there is still time — even with today’s April 15th tax deadline.

The Internal Revenue Service began distributing around $2.4 billion to one million taxpayers in December for Recovery Rebate Credit checks that remained unclaimed. They estimate that another million taxpayers are missing out on $1 billion in stimulus funds simply because they have not filed their 2021 income taxes.

April 15th serves as Tax Day for 2024 returns, but it also signifies a three-year deadline for claiming any tax refunds or, in this instance, the $1,400 Recovery Rebate Credit for the year — 2021.

To qualify, taxpayers must submit a tax return for 2021, even if their income was low or zero that year.

Here’s what you need to know about the stimulus and your eligibility.

Who qualifies for the stimulus check?

U.S. taxpayers who did not file or claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax return can apply for it.

The refundable credit was intended for those who did not receive one or more Economic Impact Payments (stimulus checks) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The amount of the stimulus is based on your adjusted gross income. To be eligible for the full $1,400, an individual’s annual income must have been below $75,000 for single filers or $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.

How can I claim the $1,400 stimulus check?

If you have already filed your tax returns, you don’t need to do anything; just wait for the IRS to send you a check or process a direct deposit into the last bank account listed in your 2023 tax return. They will inform you via a letter sent separately.

If you haven’t yet filed your 2021 tax return, you have until April 15, 2025, to file past-year returns. The IRS imposes a three-year limit on claiming tax refunds.