Deadline nears to claim unreceived 2021 stimulus checks

[UNITED STATES] The federal tax deadline is less than a week away, and there's still time to get a pandemic-era IRS stimulus check. This is your final chance to do so. If you're not sure if you received the money, tax experts recommend checking your IRS account online.

The 2021 stimulus payments were part of the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion relief package signed into law by President Biden in March 2021. The payments aimed to provide financial support to households still grappling with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike earlier stimulus rounds, this third payment included expanded eligibility for dependents, allowing more families to qualify for the full amount.

The 2021 stimulus handouts were worth up to $1,400 per person or $2,800 per married couple. A family of four, including two qualified dependents, might get up to $5,600. Filers who never received the payments may claim the recovery rebate credit on their 2021 federal return. According to the IRS, the last chance to claim the credit is the April 15, 2024 tax deadline.

Tax professionals note that many eligible taxpayers, particularly low-income families and those experiencing homelessness, may still be unaware of the credit. Community organizations and free tax preparation services, such as the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, have been working to raise awareness and help individuals file before the deadline.

For 2021, you can claim the full recovery rebate credit of up to 75,000 in adjusted gross income as a single filer or 150,000 for married couples filing jointly. The phaseout starts with wages over a certain threshold and ends when adjusted gross income exceeds 80,000 for single filers or 160,000 for married couples.

Some taxpayers who missed the original payment may also qualify for additional funds if their financial situation changed in 2021. For example, those who had a child or experienced a significant drop in income that year could be entitled to a larger credit. The IRS encourages reviewing eligibility criteria carefully to avoid leaving money unclaimed.

In December, the IRS announced intentions to deliver "special payments" to 1 million taxpayers who did not claim the 2021 recovery rebate credit on their tax returns that year. The majority of payments should have arrived by direct deposit or mailed paper check by late January 2025, according to the government.

Despite the IRS's efforts, some recipients report delays or problems receiving sent payments, especially if they have moved since completing their 2021 return. Taxpayers in this position should change their address with the IRS and regularly monitor their mail and bank accounts. If a payment was returned as undeliverable, the agency may resend it; however, processing durations may vary.

You can log in to your IRS online account to verify the status of your economic impact payments, including the 2021 stimulus check. "That's the best place to look," said Tommy Lucas, a certified financial planner and enrolled agent with Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo in Orlando, Florida. After logging into your account, look for stimulus check information in the "tax records" section of the "records and status" toolbar.

You can also check the "tax records" area to verify if you have submitted a return for 2021. While some taxpayers do not meet the filing requirements, Lucas noted that you must file your 2021 return to get the recovery rebate credit for your stimulus payment.

According to Syracuse University law professor Robert Nassau, head of the school's low-income tax clinic, some online accounts show that the IRS issued stimulus checks, but filers claim they never received the funds. "If there's any doubt" about your payment, it's best to file your 2021 return and claim the recovery rebate credit by April 15, he added. Otherwise, you risk missing the deadline and losing your chance to collect the money, Nassau explained.