Millions of Americans may have missed their last chance to claim a $1,400 stimulus check from the federal government. April 15, 2025, marked the final deadline to file a 2021 tax return and receive the third Economic Impact Payment (EIP) issued during the COVID-19 pandemic—also known as the Recovery Rebate Credit.
Why April 15, 2025, Mattered
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) confirmed that individuals who never received the third round of stimulus payments could still claim them by filing a 2021 federal income tax return.
After the three-year window to claim refunds closed, any remaining unclaimed payments would legally revert to the U.S. Treasury.
This third stimulus check was part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which issued $1,400 per eligible individual, including dependents.
Who Was Eligible for the $1,400 Stimulus Check?
To qualify for the full $1,400 payment, recipients had to meet the following income and filing thresholds:
- Single Filers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $75,000 or less
- Married Couples Filing Jointly with AGI of $150,000 or less
- Heads of Household with AGI of $112,500 or less
The payments began to phase out above these thresholds and were unavailable to:
- Individuals with AGI over $80,000
- Heads of household earning over $120,000
- Married couples with AGI over $160,000
Dependents were also eligible to receive the $1,400 payment if they were claimed on a qualifying tax return.
What About People Who Didn’t File Taxes?
The IRS emphasized that non-filers—those who didn’t file a return in 2021 due to low or no income—were still eligible. However, they had to submit a 2021 return by April 15, 2025, to receive the credit.
In most cases, there was no penalty for filing a late return as long as the taxpayer was due a refund.
IRS Sent Automatic Payments to 1 Million Taxpayers
In December 2024, the IRS began issuing automatic payments totaling about $2.4 billion to more than 1 million taxpayers who filed 2021 returns but failed to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.
According to the IRS announcement, these taxpayers didn’t need to take any action. Payments were automatically sent via direct deposit or paper checks.
$1 Billion Still Unclaimed
Despite extensive outreach, the IRS estimated that over $1 billion in stimulus funds remained unclaimed by around 1.1 million people as of early April 2025. These were mostly individuals who never filed their 2021 taxes.
As of April 16, those funds can no longer be claimed.
“It’s not too late for those who qualify, but the window is closing,” the IRS warned in its final reminder earlier this month.
What To Do Now If You Missed the Deadline
If you didn’t file your 2021 tax return by April 15, 2025, and were eligible, unfortunately, you can no longer claim the $1,400 payment. Under U.S. tax law, refunds and credits must be claimed within three years of the original deadline for the tax year in question.
However, if you believe there was an error in your filing or want to discuss your options, contact the IRS directly via their Help Page or call 1-800-829-1040.
Final Thoughts
The third stimulus payment was a lifeline for many during the height of the COVID-19 crisis. While most Americans received their payments automatically, the IRS created additional paths for non-filers and low-income individuals to still benefit—provided they acted by the April 15, 2025, deadline.
If you did file and claimed the Recovery Rebate Credit but haven’t received your refund yet, use the IRS Refund Tracker for real-time updates.
This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.
