The American Rescue Plan Act, signed by President Biden in 2021, was a major financial relief package that provided support to businesses, workers, and families affected by the pandemic. The plan included expanded unemployment benefits, a boosted Child Tax Credit, and the $1,400 stimulus checks, officially called Economic Impact Payments. This was the third round of stimulus payments, distributing around $400 billion to more than 175 million Americans.
Most eligible people received their payments automatically based on their tax filings from the previous year. However, many taxpayers who did not file their returns missed out on claiming their payments at the time.
The IRS made efforts to notify people about their eligibility, but due to the complex nature of tax filing, some still didn’t claim what was rightfully theirs. These unclaimed payments could have been collected through the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit, but many overlooked the opportunity.
The IRS has since reviewed its records and found that nearly a million taxpayers were still owed money from the third stimulus payment. The agency has started sending out these payments automatically, ensuring that those who qualify will receive their funds without having to go through the trouble of amending their tax returns. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel stated that this step was taken to minimize complications and ensure that eligible taxpayers get their payments as soon as possible.
If you already received the third stimulus check or claimed it through the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit, there is nothing more to do. The IRS is automatically sending payments to qualified individuals who filed a 2021 tax return but didn’t claim their check at the time. These payments, worth up to $1,400 per person, including dependents, are expected to reach eligible taxpayers by the end of January.
For those who never filed a 2021 tax return, there is still time to submit one to the IRS. However, the window to claim this payment is closing. The final deadline to file and claim the third stimulus check through the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit, along with any other tax refunds from that year, is April 15, 2025.
If you’re unsure whether you received your payment, you can check your tax records online using your ID.me account. If you don’t have an account, it may be a good idea to set one up. It allows you to access tax records, Social Security information, and even provides an extra layer of security for your digital identity to prevent fraud.
To qualify for the $1,400 stimulus payment, taxpayers needed to meet certain income limits. The eligibility thresholds were the same as those for previous stimulus checks. Single filers had to earn less than $75,000, Head of Household filers needed to make under $112,500, and married couples filing jointly had to have an income below $150,000.
However, the income phaseout limit was stricter for the third stimulus check compared to the first two rounds. If an individual earned more than $80,000, a Head of Household filer made over $120,000, or a married couple filing jointly had an income exceeding $160,000, they were no longer eligible for the payment.
As the final deadline approaches, those who are eligible but have yet to file their 2021 tax return should take action before it’s too late. The IRS is ensuring that those who qualify receive their payments, but for those who haven’t filed, missing the deadline will mean losing the opportunity to collect the $1,400 stimulus check permanently.
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