Who Is Still Eligible For The $1,400 Stimulus Check IRS Payment?
With only a few days remaining, those eligible for the $1,400 stimulus check IRS payment must act fast. As I wrote in a previous Forbes post, most eligible individuals have already received their payment; however, you may still be eligible if you meet two conditions. First, you qualified for the $1,400 third stimulus check back in 2021. Second, you have not yet received the payment either as a stimulus check, a payment from the IRS, or a credit on your taxes.
For those who qualify, claiming the $1,400 now requires filing (or amending) a 2021 tax return to include the Recovery Rebate Credit.
How To Claim The $1,400 Stimulus Check IRS Payment Via The Recovery Rebate Credit
File a 2021 Tax Return if You Haven’t Already: This is non-negotiable. You must submit a 2021 Form 1040 (or 1040-SR for seniors) to claim the credit, even if you have little or no income and don’t usually file taxes. The IRS explicitly urges eligible non-filers to file a return by April 15, 2025, to get their $1,400 credit. You can file electronically or by paper; if your income is low, you can use IRS Free File for 2021 through certain providers. Remember that April 15, 2025, is the last day; afterward, 2021 refunds are forfeited.
Gather Proof of What You Received (if anything): When preparing the return, you’ll need to indicate how much (if any) third stimulus payment you already got to calculate the credit accurately. The full amount for most was $1,400 per person. The IRS sent out Letter 6475 in early 2022, detailing how much they received from the third stimulus. You can also visit the IRS Get My Payment tool to confirm whether you received a stimulus check in 2021. Find that letter, or check your IRS online account to see what’s recorded. You can claim the difference as a credit if it says you got $0 (or less than you should have).
Calculate and Claim the Recovery Rebate Credit: On the 2021 return, there is a line for the Recovery Rebate Credit. If you use tax software, it will ask questions about your stimulus payment and help you figure out the credit. If you were eligible for $1,400 (plus $1,400 for each eligible dependent) and didn’t receive it, you claim that exact amount as a credit. This credit will increase your tax refund (or reduce any tax due) dollar-for-dollar. Most eligible people who missed the stimulus will end up with a $1,400 refund check per person once they file since the credit is refundable.
Already filed 2021 but missed the credit? If you did file a 2021 return but, for example, left the credit off by mistake, you have two possibilities. First, if you filed the 2021 tax return before the end of 2024, check if the IRS already caught it. According to an agency news release, the IRS automatically paid out $2.4 billion in January of this year to individuals who did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit but had filed their 2021 tax returns. However, the IRS has emphasized that there is no automatic payment for those who missed the stimulus check-in 2021 because they didn’t file a 2021 tax return.
If you filed your 2021 return but didn’t get an automatic payment and believe you should have, you might need to file an amended 2021 return (Form 1040-X) to claim the credit correctly. The IRS has information on how to do this, but the priority is to file an original return (for non-filers) by the deadline.
Watch Out for Scams: Be aware the IRS is not sending text messages or emails to claim stimulus money – any unsolicited message about a 2025 stimulus check is likely a scam. To get your legitimate $1,400, file a real tax or amended return. Do not trust anyone who asks for personal info or fees to process your stimulus.
The Upshot For Claiming The $1,400 Stimulus Check IRS Payment
After filing, eligible taxpayers can expect to receive the stimulus check as part of their tax refund. According to the IRS, any refund (including the Recovery Rebate Credit) can still be issued if you file by the deadline. If you miss the April 15, 2025 window, however, the window closes – the law won’t allow the IRS to issue the 2021 credit after that date. In short, act now, or you will lose $1,400 for good.
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