The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued $1,400 stimulus payments to approximately one million individuals across the United States. However, some taxpayers may still be confused about their eligibility for these funds or whether any further action is needed to claim them.
This refund is part of a pandemic assistance initiative known as the Recovery Rebate Credit. While the IRS managed to process the majority of payments automatically, there are specific situations where certain taxpayers may not have received their payments and need to verify their status.
Who qualifies for the $1,400 stimulus payment?
To be eligible for this refund, it is crucial that the taxpayer has not previously claimed the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax return. The IRS has identified individuals who did not claim the payment and, in these cases, automatically disbursed the funds through direct deposit or via check according to the information available from their 2023 tax return.
IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel stated that the system effectively recognized the proper recipients, allowing payments to be executed without the need for an amended return. However, anyone who believes they should have received the payment can check their IRS account for the payment status.
Depending on the type of missing payment they wish to claim, taxpayers who did not receive the stimulus may have the option to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit by filing a 2020 or 2021 tax return.
How to claim a missing IRS stimulus payment
To verify whether the payment has been dispatched, the IRS recommends that individuals check their online account. They should navigate to the “Economic Impact Payment Information” section within the Tax Records page.
Additionally, the IRS distributed three types of notifications to inform taxpayers about the stimulus payments:
- Notice 1444: Indicates the initial payment for the 2020 tax year.
- Notice 1444-B: Details the second payment for the 2020 tax year.
- Notice 1444-C: Confirms the third payment for the 2021 tax year.
