If you missed your $1,400 stimulus payment from 2021, the IRS says you still have one last chance to claim it—but time is running out. The final deadline to file your 2021 tax return and request the Recovery Rebate Credit is April 15, 2025.
If you don’t file by this date, you’ll lose the right to the payment forever, and the money will return to the U.S. Treasury, according to federal rules.
Who Can Still Claim the $1,400 Stimulus?
The payment was part of the 2021 American Rescue Plan, which provided economic relief during the pandemic. To qualify for the full $1,400:
- Single filers must have earned less than $75,000 in 2021
- Married couples filing jointly must have earned less than $150,000
If your income was higher, you might still receive a reduced amount, depending on your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and other eligibility factors.
How to Claim the $1,400 Payment
To claim the stimulus payment:
- File your 2021 tax return before April 15, 2025
- Use Form 1040 and include your Recovery Rebate Credit
- You’ll need documents like your Form W-2, income records, or any other employment forms from 2021
- If you already filed but forgot to claim the credit, you can file an amendment using Form 1040-X
The IRS will process your claim and send the money either via direct deposit or check, based on the banking details provided in your 2024 return. Make sure all your information is correct to avoid delays.
Where Did This Money Come From?
The $1,400 was part of the third round of stimulus payments under the 2021 American Rescue Plan. Unlike earlier rounds, this one required taxpayers to take action. If you didn’t file taxes in 2021, even if you qualified financially, you were automatically excluded from the payment.
This affected millions of people—especially older adults, low-income earners, and those who are homeless or unemployed. Many were unaware they needed to file a return to get the benefit.
More Than $1 Billion Still Unclaimed
According to the IRS, over 1.1 million taxpayers have not claimed their $1,400 check, and the total unclaimed amount is over $1 billion.
A spokesperson for the IRS said:
“It is crucial that taxpayers act now. Every year, millions in legitimate credits expire unclaimed, hitting low-income families especially hard.”
There will be no deadline extension, and after April 15, 2025, all unclaimed money will become the property of the U.S. Treasury—with no chance to recover it.