If you did not receive this payment—or received a partial amount—you may still be qualified to claim it by filing a 2021 federal tax return. However, you must act quickly as the deadline is April 15, 2025.
$1,400 IRS Stimulus Check
Tuesday marks not only Tax Day but also the three-year deadline for claiming tax refunds and credits for the year 2021. This includes the $1,400 Recovery Rebate Credit, which many have yet to apply for and receive.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government issued several rounds of stimulus payments to assist Americans facing economic hardships. However, numerous individuals did not receive these payments due to not filing a 2021 tax return. This applies to people who were not required to file yet were still eligible for the stimulus.
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Didn’t receive your $1,400 stimulus check from 2021? You may still qualify. If you missed the third round of Economic Impact Payments in 2021, there’s still time to claim it through the Recovery Rebate Credit. The IRS is issuing payments automatically to those who filed but didn’t claim it—and if you haven’t filed yet, you have until April 15, 2025, to get what you’re owed. This could be your last opportunity to receive up to $1,400 per person, plus $1,400 for each dependent. Whether you are a parent, student, retiree, or thought you did not qualify due to low income, you could still be entitled to this money—so don’t miss out.
For individuals who file by the appropriate deadline, payments will be sent either via paper check or direct deposit using the banking information provided on their 2024 tax returns.
The specific amount received by each individual is determined by their adjusted gross income. Those earning $75,000 or less in 2021 qualify for the full $1,400. For married couples filing jointly, the income threshold rises to $150,000 for the 2021 tax year.
Kevin Thompson, a finance expert and the founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group, previously stated to Newsweek: “The most important aspect of the Recovery Rebate Credit is that it’s refundable—this means you can receive the credit even if you have no tax liabilities. Unlike most credits and rebates that only reduce your taxable income to zero, refundable credits exceed what you owe, leading to a refund of the extra amount.”
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Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, previously communicated to Newsweek: “While it may seem unbelievable to the millions of Americans who received stimulus checks throughout the pandemic, there remains a small group of taxpayers who qualified for payments and never received them.”
After April 15, taxpayers will lose the opportunity to receive the stimulus check funds, which will be returned to the U.S. Treasury.
Who Qualifies for the $1,400 Stimulus?
To receive the full credit, you must satisfy these criteria:
U.S. citizen or resident alien for the tax year 2021
Not claimed as a dependent on someone else’s 2021 tax return
Valid Social Security Number (SSN) issued before the tax return due date
Meet income eligibility criteria (based on your 2021 tax year AGI).
Income Thresholds for Full Credit
Single filers: $75,000 or less
Married filing jointly: $150,000 or less
Head of household: $112,500 or less
If your income exceeds these amounts, the credit will be gradually reduced and completely phased out at:
$80,000 (single)
$160,000 (married filing jointly)
$120,000 (head of household)
How to Claim the $1,400 Bonus?
1. If You Already Filed Your 2021 Tax Return (But Didn’t Claim the Credit)
The IRS is processing these payments automatically. If you are eligible, you will receive your payment through direct deposit or check based on your most recent IRS information. No further action is required.
2. If You Did Not File a 2021 Return
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Follow these steps:
Step 1: Visit IRS Free File (for incomes under $73,000) or use tax software.
Step 2: File your 2021 tax return, even if you had no income.
Step 3: Use Form 1040 to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on the return.
Step 4: Submit the return before April 15, 2025.
If you are entitled to money from this credit, you will receive it as a refund, even if you don’t owe taxes.
You may be among the 1 million eligible individuals if:
You had no taxable income and didn’t believe you needed to file.
You experienced a change in income between 2020 and 2021 that now qualifies you.
You added a new child or dependent in 2021.
You were incarcerated, homeless, or in another circumstance where your payment was not processed.
The IRS encourages individuals in these categories to file before the deadline to avoid permanently missing out.
