Do Stimulus Checks Expire? What to Do If Yours Has Expired

Stimulus checks provided financial relief to millions, but not everyone cashed theirs in time. Whether due to oversight or delivery delays, some recipients may now be wondering if their payment is still valid.

If your stimulus check has expired, there are steps you can take to request a replacement and ensure you receive the funds owed to you.

Official Time Limits for Check Negotiation

Stimulus checks, like all U.S. Treasury-issued payments, are valid for a limited period. Treasury checks, including economic impact payments, are generally valid for one year from the date printed on the check. After this period, banks are not required to honor them.

According to the Treasury Financial Manual, Section 7050, financial institutions are instructed not to cash checks beyond this timeframe. Once a check surpasses the one-year mark, it is classified as stale-dated and cannot be processed.

What Happens If the Check Expires

If a stimulus check expires, the funds remain allocated to the recipient but are no longer accessible through regular banking methods. Banks will reject stale-dated Treasury checks.

Expired checks are reported back to the U.S. Treasury, which keeps records of uncashed payments. To access the funds, recipients must contact the IRS, which can verify whether a check remains outstanding.

An uncashed check may also create confusion when reconciling past tax returns. While stimulus payments are not taxable, some individuals may have mistakenly claimed a Recovery Rebate Credit, believing they never received their payment. This could lead to discrepancies with the IRS, requiring clarification or an amended return.

How to Request a Replacement

To obtain a replacement check, contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 or use the “Get My Payment” tool on the IRS website. If the check remains uncashed, the IRS can initiate a payment trace to confirm it was not fraudulently cashed. This process typically takes about six weeks.

If the IRS confirms the check was not cashed, they will reissue the payment. If you have moved since the original check was issued, update your address with the IRS to ensure the replacement arrives at the correct location. You can submit an address change using Form 8822 or update your records through the IRS website.

In some cases, individuals who never received their stimulus payment may need to claim the funds through a tax return. If the IRS determines the check was issued but never cashed, recipients may need to file a Recovery Rebate Credit on their next tax return to receive the amount as a refundable credit.

Unclaimed Stimulus Funds

Many stimulus payments remain unclaimed due to processing errors, outdated banking information, or eligibility misunderstandings. Some individuals qualified for a payment but never received it because the IRS lacked their most recent financial details. This was common for those who did not file tax returns in prior years, as the IRS primarily relied on tax records to determine eligibility.

Another reason for unclaimed payments is misdirected deposits. If direct deposit information was incorrect or outdated, the payment was often returned to the Treasury. If the IRS did not have a valid mailing address, the recipient may have never been notified of the failed transaction. This was especially problematic for individuals who changed banks, relocated, or had accounts closed between stimulus rounds. Unlike tax refunds, which are tracked through annual filings, stimulus payments were distributed based on existing IRS data at the time, making it harder for some recipients to identify discrepancies.

Impact on Tax Filings

Expired or unclaimed stimulus payments can affect tax filings, particularly for those who never received their payment but are still eligible. The Recovery Rebate Credit allows taxpayers to claim missing stimulus funds on their tax return. If a check was never cashed and the IRS has no record of it being deposited, the amount can often be recovered by filing for this credit. However, eligibility depends on income thresholds and other criteria established for each stimulus round.

For those who already filed a tax return without claiming the credit, an amendment may be necessary. The IRS allows taxpayers to file Form 1040-X to adjust a previously submitted return, but processing can take several months. Additionally, if a taxpayer incorrectly claimed the credit when they had already received a stimulus payment, they may face an IRS adjustment or a notice requesting repayment. Ensuring accurate reporting is important, as discrepancies can lead to delays in refunds or additional IRS scrutiny.