During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government issued three rounds of stimulus payments to help citizens navigate widespread financial hardship. While millions of Americans successfully received these payments, a significant number missed out on the third and final round, which offered up to $1,400 per person. Authorized through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, this payment was designed to provide economic relief to qualifying individuals and families.
A Billion Dollars Still Unclaimed by Eligible Americans
According to recent data shared by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), more than 1.1 million individuals could still be eligible to receive their third stimulus payment. Altogether, these unclaimed payments are worth over $1 billion. What’s more surprising is that many people who qualify for the funds may not even realize it. The window to claim the money is still open, but that opportunity is closing fast as the IRS sets the deadline for mid-April 2025.
Who Qualified for the Final Stimulus Payment?
The third round of economic impact payments, unlike the earlier ones, came with stricter income limits and guidelines. Individuals who earned $75,000 or less and couples filing jointly who made up to $150,000 qualified for the full $1,400 amount. For heads of household, the income cap was $112,500. Dependents including adult dependents and students were also included in this round, allowing many families to receive even more financial support. The IRS based its eligibility decisions on tax return information from 2021, which plays a central role in determining whether a person still qualifies.
Common Reasons Why Payments Were Missed
Despite the government’s efforts to distribute these funds broadly, many individuals never received the payment due to specific and often preventable reasons. A major issue was that some people didn’t file a 2021 tax return, either because they had little to no income or assumed filing wasn’t necessary. Unfortunately, without that return, the IRS had no way of verifying eligibility.
In other instances, people did file a return but failed to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit the section that ensured the third stimulus would be issued. Others had errors in their tax information, such as incorrect Social Security numbers or mismatched income details, which may have delayed or completely blocked the processing of the credit.
IRS Steps In With Automatic Payments for Some
In December 2024, the IRS took initiative by identifying individuals who had filed a 2021 tax return but did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. The agency automatically issued payments of up to $1,400 to these taxpayers. These payments were sent either through direct deposit or as paper checks, based on the most recent contact information the IRS had on file. Most of these automatic payments were completed by early January 2025, and recipients were notified via official IRS mail. However, this proactive move only benefited those who had already submitted a 2021 return. Those who never filed remain unaccounted for and must take action to receive their payment.
How to File Now If You Haven’t Already
For individuals who haven’t filed a 2021 return and believe they may still be eligible for the $1,400 stimulus, it is essential to act now. Even if you had no income in that year, you must still file a return to be considered for the credit. To do this, obtain Form 1040 from the IRS website or a reputable tax software provider. Be sure to include the Recovery Rebate Credit information on the return and submit it by the April, 2025 deadline. If mailing the form, consider using certified or trackable mail so there is proof of timely submission. The IRS will treat returns as timely filed as long as they are postmarked by that date.
Consequences of Missing the Deadline
Failing to submit your 2021 return by April, 2025, comes with permanent consequences. The IRS gives a three-year window to file and claim a refund, including any refundable credits like the third stimulus payment. After this period ends, the right to claim the $1,400 payment will be forfeited. Additionally, taxpayers may miss out on other valuable credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which can provide a significant refund even for those with no tax liability. Once the deadline passes, any unclaimed refunds will be legally turned over to the U.S. Treasury and can no longer be recovered.
Check Your Status Through the IRS Portal
If you are uncertain whether you received the third stimulus payment or filed a 2021 return, the IRS has made it easy to verify. By logging into your IRS online account, you can check if your 2021 tax return was filed and whether the Recovery Rebate Credit was issued. Navigate to the “Tax Records” section to review this information. You’ll need your Social Security Number and tax details to access the portal securely. For those filing close to the deadline, remember that many free tax tools do not support previous tax years, so you may need to print and mail the forms manually.
