Can I Still File for My Stimulus Check?
If you never received a stimulus payment, you may still be able to claim the money by filing a prior-year tax return before the official deadlines.
The federal government issued three rounds of Economic Impact Payments, or stimulus checks, during the COVID-19 pandemic. While most eligible Americans received these automatically, some did not receive the full amount or missed a payment. It may still be possible to claim this money from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by filing a prior-year tax return to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.
Claiming Deadlines for Past Stimulus Payments
Claiming a missed stimulus payment is tied to tax filing deadlines. The first and second payments were for the 2020 tax year, and the deadline to claim them by filing a 2020 tax return was May 17, 2024.
As this deadline has passed, the opportunity to claim the first two stimulus payments is closed. The third payment, however, corresponds to the 2021 tax year and provided up to $1,400 per eligible person. The deadline to file a 2021 tax return to claim this money is April 15, 2025.
Some taxpayers may receive their payment without filing a new return. In late 2024, the IRS began automatically issuing payments to eligible individuals who filed a 2021 tax return but did not claim the credit. These payments are sent via direct deposit or paper check, and no action is required from these recipients.
For those who have not yet filed a 2021 tax return, missing the April 2025 deadline will result in forfeiting any unclaimed money from the third stimulus payment. The IRS cannot issue these payments after the filing period closes.
Information Needed to Claim the Recovery Rebate Credit
Before filing, you must confirm your eligibility for the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit. Eligibility depended on income, having a valid Social Security number, and not being claimed as a dependent on another tax return. For the third payment, single filers with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) up to $75,000 and married couples filing jointly with an AGI up to $150,000 were eligible for the full amount.
You will need to gather information for everyone on your tax return, including full names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers. You also need all 2021 income documents, such as a Form W-2 or Form 1099. Have your bank account and routing numbers ready if you want to receive your refund via direct deposit.
You must determine the exact amount of the third stimulus payment you already received, as this is needed to accurately calculate the credit you are still owed. This information is available in your IRS Online Account. The IRS also mailed Letter 6475, which confirmed the payment amount.
The instructions for the 2021 Form 1040 include a worksheet to help you calculate the correct credit amount. You will use your gathered information, including the payment amount you already received, to complete this worksheet. This determines the final credit you can claim on your tax return.
How to File a Prior Year Tax Return
To claim the third stimulus payment, you will need the 2021 version of Form 1040 and its instructions. These forms are available for download on the IRS website’s “Prior Year Forms & Publications” page.
Prior-year returns generally cannot be filed electronically using consumer tax software. You must print the completed tax forms and physically mail them to the IRS.
The correct mailing address depends on your state and whether you are enclosing a payment. The instructions for Form 1040 list the appropriate addresses to use to avoid processing delays.
Paper-filed prior-year returns have a longer processing time, potentially taking six weeks or more. A few weeks after mailing your return, you can check its status using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the IRS website.