Although tax incentives from the Covid era have mostly come to an end, there are still over a million Americans eligible for stimulus checks, according to the IRS.
The agency issued a reminder stating that individuals might still qualify for the Recovery Rebate Credit, which can provide up to $1,400, provided they did not file a federal tax return for the year 2021.
The IRS is in the process of automatically distributing payments to eligible taxpayers, but this will conclude on April 15, 2025, which is the final date to claim any credits or refunds from 2021.
Payments will either be sent via paper checks or directly deposited, utilizing banking details provided on 2023 tax returns.
These funds represent the last wave of stimulus checks distributed during the pandemic. The amount you receive is contingent on your adjusted gross income (AGI), which gradually phases out at higher income levels.
Single filers can receive the full $1,400 if their AGI for 2021 was $75,000 or less, with the credit phasing out entirely at an AGI of $80,000.
Married couples filing jointly can qualify for $2,800 if their combined AGI for 2021 was $150,000 or below, with a complete phase-out at $160,000.
Dependents are eligible for $1,400 in 2021, independent of their age, but the same phase-out thresholds apply.
Begin preparing your taxes with these options
Offers included in this section come from affiliate partners and are selected based on a blend of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and continual accessibility.
Xpert Assist is accessible with any plan for a set fee
Guarantees 100% precision and maximum refund
The IRS usually allows a three-year period for filing a refund or credit, making Tax Day 2025 the last opportunity to receive any payments owed. This includes individuals who qualified for the credit but left that section blank, as well as those who haven’t yet filed a tax return.
According to the IRS, over 1.1 million Americans have unclaimed refunds from the 2021 tax year, totaling more than $1 billion.
These primarily comprise taxpayers who haven’t submitted their Form 1040 for that year, as the deadline approaches quickly.
Excluding the Recovery Rebate Credit, the median refund for non-filers from 2021 is approximately $781. Many low- and moderate-income workers may also miss out on the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which can be worth as much as $6,728 for eligible families.
| Status | Individual threshold | Married filing jointly threshold |
|---|---|---|
| No qualifying children | $21,430 | $27,380 |
| One qualifying child | $42,158 | $48,108 |
| Two qualifying children | $47,915 | 53,865 |
| Three or more qualifying children | $51,464 | $57,414 |
Source: Internal Revenue Service
Ways to file a 2021 tax return
As the deadline of April 15, 2025, approaches quickly, time is scarce to submit your 2024 return, let alone from 2021. Gathering older documents may be challenging, especially if you are not with your former employer from 2021.
The IRS provides several methods:
Create an IRS account: Access the Individual Online Account at IRS.gov to view your tax account information, wage and income statements, non-filing verification letters and past return transcripts.
Request copies: If you lack Forms W-2, 1098, 1099, or 5498 from 2021, your previous employer is obligated to provide them, as are banks and other payers.
Get a transcript by mail: To obtain a return or transcript by mail, visit the Get Transcript by Mail page on IRS.gov or contact the automated line at 800-908-9946. However, due to time constraints, this might not be the most practical option.
Request a wage and income transcript: You can obtain a wage and income transcript by filing Form 4506-T, which includes details from returns submitted to the IRS, such as Forms W-2, 1099, 1098, and IRA contribution data. This information can assist in completing your 2021 return.
As with mail transcripts, the IRS warns that written requests may take “several weeks” and recommends using other methods first.
Who is entitled to 2021 tax refunds?
Aside from the stimulus payments, the IRS has provided estimates of how many individuals in each state could receive a refund, the potential median refund, and the aggregate amount of refunds expected for each state.
| State | Number of residents impacted | Median refund amount | Total potential refunds for 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 18,100 | $743 | $16,048,100 |
| Alaska | 3,600 | $832 | $3,464,100 |
| Arizona | 28,700 | $680 | $24,284,300 |
| Arkansas | 10,200 | $709 | $8,742,300 |
| California | 116,300 | $600 | $92,299,600 |
| Colorado | 19,200 | $781 | $17,267,500 |
| Connecticut | 11,700 | $860 | $11,092,500 |
| Delaware | 4,400 | $790 | $4,112,700 |
| District of Columbia | 2,700 | $883 | $2,642,900 |
| Florida | 69,800 | $732 | $61,087,200 |
| Georgia | 38,500 | $720 | $33,515,300 |
| Hawaii | 5,500 | $865 | $5,281,800 |
| Idaho | 5,500 | $649 | $4,495,800 |
| Illinois | 44,500 | $892 | $42,482,800 |
| Indiana | 25,000 | $778 | $22,581,300 |
| Iowa | 10,900 | $797 | $9,911,600 |
| Kansas | 9,700 | $746 | $8,640,200 |
| Kentucky | 13,800 | $747 | $12,098,400 |
| Louisiana | 17,000 | $777 | $15,278,200 |
| Maine | 4,100 | $817 | $3,714,100 |
| Maryland | 22,900 | $837 | $21,766,300 |
| Massachusetts | 27,000 | $936 | $26,581,100 |
| Michigan | 40,300 | $854 | $37,301,500 |
| Minnesota | 15,900 | $670 | $13,224,100 |
| Mississippi | 9,600 | $701 | $8,283,600 |
| Missouri | 22,900 | $722 | $19,960,200 |
| Montana | 3,600 | $679 | $3,068,800 |
| Nebraska | 5,000 | $760 | $4,439,000 |
| Nevada | 13,700 | $783 | $12,347,800 |
| New Hampshire | 4,800 | $833 | $4,509,400 |
| New Jersey | 31,700 | $657 | $26,537,500 |
| New Mexico | 7,200 | $843 | $6,569,300 |
| New York | 73,000 | $995 | $72,477,100 |
| North Carolina | 35,800 | $719 | $30,754,100 |
| North Dakota | 2,400 | $781 | $2,147,100 |
| Ohio | 39,400 | $762 | $34,735,100 |
| Oklahoma | 15,400 | $739 | $13,501,500 |
| Oregon | 19,300 | $772 | $16,981,500 |
| Pennsylvania | 53,100 | $993 | $52,121,800 |
| Rhode Island | 3,600 | $946 | $3,487,000 |
| South Carolina | 14,400 | $683 | $12,313,300 |
| South Dakota | 2,600 | $745 | $2,237,700 |
| Tennessee | 21,000 | $708 | $18,085,400 |
| Texas | 102,200 | $810 | $94,792,200 |
| Utah | 8,700 | $696 | $7,553,700 |
| Vermont | 2,400 | $816 | $2,136,900 |
| Virginia | 28,500 | $749 | $25,896,200 |
| Washington | 35,200 | $880 | $33,716,000 |
| West Virginia | 4,800 | $818 | $4,422,800 |
| Wisconsin | 14,300 | $730 | $12,425,300 |
| Wyoming | 2,100 | $790 | $1,922,800 |
| Totals | 1,142,000 | $781 | $1,025,336,800 |
Source: IRS
Tax refund FAQs
What is the deadline for receiving a refund from tax year 2021?
The IRS allows refunds to be claimed for three years; hence, the final date to claim any credits or refunds from tax year 2021 is April 15, 2025, marking the conclusion of tax year 2024.
Who still qualifies for the Recovery Rebate Credit?
The Recovery Rebate Credit serves as a refundable credit for individuals who did not receive one or more stimulus payments during the pandemic. The IRS began distributing payments to eligible taxpayers in December 2024. It is estimated that more than a million Americans who did not file a 2021 return remain eligible for the credit, up to $1,400, if they file their 2021 return by April 15, 2025.
What is the average tax refund amount?
As of March 7, 2025, the average tax refund stood at $3,324, an increase from $3,145 the previous year. Taxpayers opting for direct deposit had an average refund of $3,379, reflecting a 5.3% increase over the 2024 average of $3,209.
Subscribe to the CNBC Select Newsletter!
Financial matters are crucial—make the most of your resources. Sign up here to receive expert tips, strategies, news, and everything necessary to optimize your finances delivered straight to your inbox.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our goal is to deliver high-caliber service journalism and thorough consumer advice, enabling our readers to make informed financial decisions. Every tax-related article undergoes meticulous reporting by knowledgeable writers and editors well-versed in tax products. While CNBC Select earns commissions from affiliate partners on various offers and links, we create all content independently, without influence from our commercial team or external parties, and uphold high journalistic standards and ethics.
Stay updated with CNBC Select’s extensive coverage of credit cards, banking and finance, and connect with us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram andTwitter to keep yourself informed.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article reflect those of the Select editorial staff alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any third party.
