If you missed out on your COVID-19 stimulus check or failed to file your 2021 tax return, there’s still a chance to get your money — but time is running out. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has confirmed that April 15, 2025 is the final day to submit a 2021 tax return and claim any unclaimed refunds, including pandemic-era stimulus checks.
The IRS says more than 1.1 million people across the United States may still be eligible, with an estimated $1 billion in refunds waiting to be claimed. But if these aren’t claimed by the deadline, the money will go to the U.S. Treasury — permanently.
Why April 15, 2025 Is the Final Deadline
Under U.S. tax law, taxpayers usually have three years to file a late tax return and claim any refund. For the 2021 tax year, the original filing deadline was in April 2022, which means that the final opportunity to claim a refund is April 15, 2025.
If you don’t file by that date, the money will be lost forever. You also can’t appeal or recover the money later, no matter the reason for missing the deadline.
Who Might Be Eligible to Claim?
Many of the unclaimed refunds belong to people who:
- Had low income or were not required to file in 2021
- Worked informal jobs or moved addresses during the pandemic
- Didn’t realize they were eligible for pandemic stimulus payments
Even if you earned little or no income, you may still be eligible for valuable tax credits from 2021, such as:
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
- Child Tax Credit
- Recovery Rebate Credit (for unclaimed stimulus money)
The IRS urges people to check whether they qualify, especially if they didn’t get the full COVID-19 stimulus checks or were unsure about filing during the pandemic.
How to Claim Your 2021 Refund Before the Deadline
To claim your refund, you need to file a 2021 tax return before April 15, 2025. Here’s what the IRS recommends:
- Gather your documents from 2021 — like W-2s, 1099s, or 1098 forms
- If you don’t have those papers, request them from your employer, school, or bank
- Use the IRS’s “Get Transcript Online” tool to access old tax information
- Submit the return using updated 2021 forms, available on the IRS website
Remember: refunds won’t be paid if the return is filed after April 15. But even if you’ve missed the refund deadline, the IRS still advises filing to avoid future penalties, audits, or compliance issues.
Why Many People Miss Out on Refunds
According to the U.S. Treasury, about 5% of households didn’t claim their 2021 stimulus payments. Many were low-income earners, people with unstable housing, or those unaware they had to file to receive credits.
Advocacy groups have launched awareness campaigns to help these individuals claim their rightful money before it’s too late.