To qualify for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, you must have been a U.S. citizen or resident alien in 2020, not a dependent of another taxpayer, and possess a valid Social Security number. This credit applies if you did not receive the full amount of your first or second Economic Impact Payments (stimulus checks).
You're eligible for the credit if you're a U.S. citizen or resident alien, not a dependent of another taxpayer, have a valid Social Security number, and didn't receive the full amount of the Economic Impact Payments.
For the third stimulus check, any household member that has an SSN qualifies for a payment. This is different than the first and second stimulus check, where at least one tax filer must have an SSN for the household to claim the stimulus checks.
You can claim the stimulus payments as a tax credit and get the money as part of your tax refund. The stimulus checks are a federal tax credit, known as the Recovery Rebate Credit. In order to get the Recovery Rebate Credit, you will need to file a tax return.
Key Takeaways. You've typically got three years to file a return and claim a refund, starting from the original due date or the extension due date if you filed an extension.
If you normally do not file tax returns, you could still be eligible for an Economic Impact Payment (“stimulus payment”). If you did not receive the first or second Economic Impact Payment, or received a partial payment, you can still claim your full amount.
This means your 4-year statute of limitations period expired on 04/15/2025. Likewise, if you already filed your original 2020 return by 04/15/2021, you would have until 04/15/2025 to file an amended return to claim your refund, not 05/17/2025.
The stimulus payments were only disbursed for tax year 2020 and 2021. If you did not receive the stimulus payments from those tax years it is no to late to apply as the eligibility ended after April 15, 2025.
Securely access your IRS online account to view the total of your first, second and third Economic Impact Payment amounts under the Tax Records page. You can no longer use the Get My Payment application to check your payment status.
Normally, a taxpayer will qualify for the full amount of Economic Impact Payment if they have AGI of up to $75,000 for singles and married persons filing a separate return, up to $112,500 for heads of household, and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns and surviving spouses.
The IRS will send a Letter 6475 in late January, 2022, that lists the stimulus payment amount sent to you. The letter details your information for easy reference—you don't have to file it with your tax return.
The deadline to file a 2021 tax return to claim missed third stimulus checks was April 15, 2025. The IRS has issued all first, second, and third stimulus checks for COVID relief. Learn more about the first stimulus check and the second stimulus check. NOTE: Information on this page is historical content.
While speculation about a fourth stimulus check has surfaced on social media and unverified websites, there has been no official confirmation from Congress or the IRS to support this claim and any such news should be taken with caution as it could be misinformation or attempted fraud.
The 2021 stimulus payments were worth up to $1,400 per individual, or $2,800 per married couple. A family of four could receive up to $5,600 with two eligible dependents.
To claim an EIP from Round 1 or 2 (2020), claim any amount you were eligible for, but did not already receive, on line 30 of your 2020 Income Tax Return, the Recovery Rebate Credit. Use the Worksheet on page 59 of the 2020 Form 1040 and Form 1040-SR instructions to determine the exact amount you were eligible for.
Stimulus checks were sent out back in 2020 as part of COVID relief. In 2021, the Recovery Rebate Credit was available to claim on your return if you didn't receive your stimulus checks. Both of those initiatives have ended.
Single adults who reported a 2019 tax return with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less are eligible to receive $600. Married couples who filed jointly with an adjusted gross income of up to $150,000 will qualify to receive $1,200. Families with children under 17 will receive an additional $600 for each child.
First Stimulus Check
If you were claimed as a dependent on someone else's 2019 tax return (see Q C6), you were not eligible for a stimulus check. However, if that changed in 2020 and you met the other eligibility requirements, you could claim the credit on your 2020 federal tax return (which you file in 2021).
Securely access your IRS online account to view the total of your first, second and third Economic Impact Payment amounts under the Tax Records page.
The American Rescue Plan, a new COVID relief bill, was signed into law on March 11, 2021. The bill includes a third round of stimulus payments for millions of Americans.
No, the IRS is not currently sending out new $1400 stimulus checks in 2026, but they did wrap up sending out final automatic payments for unclaimed 2021 Recovery Rebate Credits in late 2024/early 2025, with the deadline to claim these missed payments passing on April 15, 2025; new checks would require new Congressional action, and any texts about current stimulus payments are scams, say FOX 5 DC, CNBC, and IRS.gov.
The biggest tax mistakes people make include filing late, math errors, incorrect personal info (like Social Security numbers), forgetting deductions/credits (like EITC), misreporting income, not signing forms, and making errors with bank details for direct deposit, all leading to delays, penalties, or missed savings, with using tax software or professionals helping avoid these common pitfalls.
You can't get a credit or refund if you don't file the claim within 3 years of filing your original return, or 2 years after paying the tax, whichever is later, unless you meet an exception that allows you more time to file a claim.
The following are good options for your tax money, and should be the top priorities for your refund.