The IRS has an important announcement for those who believe they may have missed out on a stimulus check or tax refund for the 2021 tax year: Today is the final day to claim these funds.
In December, the tax agency distributed $2.4 billion in “special payments” to approximately 1 million taxpayers. This initiative was designed to ensure that individuals who did not receive federal stimulus payments during the pandemic would finally have access to their funds.
However, the IRS noted earlier this month that there may still be individuals who have missed out on these payments or their 2021 tax refunds. This could happen in situations where a person failed to file a tax return for that year, necessitating the filing of a 2021 tax return before midnight tonight, in accordance with the agency’s guidelines.
The IRS estimates that roughly 1.1 million people did not file their 2021 tax returns and may still be eligible for either the stimulus check, tax refund, or both.
What are the $1,400 IRS stimulus checks?
The Recovery Rebate Credit is intended for taxpayers who did not receive all or some of the stimulus checks distributed during the pandemic. Lawmakers approved three rounds of stimulus payments: two in 2020 and one in 2021.
The maximum amount available is $1,400 per individual, including all qualifying dependents listed on a tax return. This means a single taxpayer without dependents could receive up to $1,400, while joint filers with two qualifying children could be eligible for as much as $5,600, according to the IRS.
Who qualifies for a stimulus check?
The IRS indicates that most eligible individuals have already received their stimulus payments—either in 2020, 2021, or in December 2024 when the agency began issuing checks to those who had not claimed the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 returns.
However, individuals who did not file a tax return for 2021 may still qualify for these funds, the IRS has stated.
How to claim the $1,400 check?
The IRS recommends that individuals who did not file their 2021 taxes but believe they may be eligible for the payment e-file their tax returns. The deadline for filing the 2021 tax return is midnight on April 15.
Many individuals who did not file their 2021 tax returns could also be eligible for refunds, with the IRS estimating around $1 billion in refunds is still unclaimed by those who failed to submit their 2021 tax forms by April 15, 2022.
“There is no penalty for failing to file if a refund is owed. Nevertheless, a return seeking a refund must be filed within three years of its due date to be allowed,” the IRS pointed out, meaning the final date to claim the funds is April 15, 2025.
