Deadline nears to claim unreceived 2021 stimulus checks

Image Credits: UnsplashImage Credits: Unsplash
  • Taxpayers have until the April 15, 2024, deadline to claim the recovery rebate credit for unclaimed pandemic-era stimulus payments.
  • Full payments were available for individuals earning up to 75,000andcouplesupto75,000andcouplesupto150,000, with phaseouts at higher incomes.
  • The IRS online account portal is the best way to verify payment status, and filing a 2021 return is required to claim missing funds.

[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.


Ad Banner
Advertisement by Open Privilege
Tax
Image Credits: Unsplash
TaxJune 22, 2025 at 4:00:00 PM

It’s time to rethink what taxes are for

When people hear the word “tax,” the immediate reaction is often negative—linked to burdens, bureaucracy, or partisan disputes over who pays more. Yet...

Tax United States
Image Credits: Unsplash
TaxJune 21, 2025 at 4:30:00 PM

What the 2026 end of clean energy tax credits means for you

Republican lawmakers are racing to push through sweeping legislation that would roll back many of the consumer-focused clean energy tax breaks introduced under...

Tax United States
Image Credits: Unsplash
TaxJune 18, 2025 at 11:30:00 PM

How Trump Savings Accounts for children work

In the latest version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a new child savings plan—unofficially dubbed “Trump accounts”—remains a centerpiece of the...

Tax United States
Image Credits: Unsplash
TaxJune 18, 2025 at 6:00:00 PM

Trump estate tax exemption 2025 would hit $15 million under new bill

You might think estate tax reform is something only billionaires care about. Trust fund drama. Yacht inheritance. Succession-level stuff. But Donald Trump’s new...

Tax United States
Image Credits: Unsplash
TaxJune 17, 2025 at 11:30:00 PM

Why the Fed is holding rates steady—And what it signals for capital flows

Despite intensifying political pressure and a volley of public criticism from President Donald Trump, the Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates...

Tax United States
Image Credits: Unsplash
TaxJune 17, 2025 at 6:00:00 PM

The $10,000 tax limit that won’t go away

Negotiations over President Donald Trump’s latest spending package are heating up—and at the center of the storm sits a polarizing tax provision: the...

Tax United States
Image Credits: Unsplash
TaxJune 17, 2025 at 3:00:00 PM

How to avoid a revenge tax when success becomes a political target

Tax policy used to be a tool for funding government and nudging behavior. Today, it’s also a form of signaling—sometimes even score-settling. Around...

Tax United States
Image Credits: Unsplash
TaxJune 16, 2025 at 6:30:00 PM

Make your June 16 estimated tax payment to stay ahead, IRS warns

If you earn money outside a regular paycheck—through side gigs, freelance work, rental properties, or capital gains—there’s a date you don’t want to...

Tax United States
Image Credits: Unsplash
TaxJune 15, 2025 at 7:00:00 PM

Expanded 529 plan tax breaks could reshape how families save for education

A Republican-backed tax bill now moving through Congress could make 529 college-savings plans more flexible—and more appealing for families navigating rising education costs....

Tax Singapore
Image Credits: Unsplash
TaxJune 10, 2025 at 9:00:00 PM

How tax on flexible retirement annuity withdrawals works

Planning for retirement isn’t just about saving. It’s also about drawing those savings down in a way that won’t quietly erode your future...

Tax Singapore
Image Credits: Unsplash
TaxJune 10, 2025 at 4:00:00 PM

Are cryptocurrencies taxable

Cryptocurrencies started as a niche experiment. Fast forward a decade, and they’ve become a global financial force, attracting everyone from solo retail investors...

Tax United States
Image Credits: Unsplash
TaxJune 8, 2025 at 2:00:00 PM

Why the GOP tax bill signals a strategic gamble

[UNITED STATES] The House just passed a sweeping tax-and-spending bill packed with Republican priorities, from reviving Trump-era tax cuts to trimming Medicaid and...

Ad Banner
Advertisement by Open Privilege
Load More
Ad Banner
Advertisement by Open Privilege