Think you missed your chance to get a $1,400 stimulus check? You might want to double-check. The IRS has confirmed that millions of Americans may still be eligible for the third round of Economic Impact Payments — even in 2025. But here’s the catch: it’s not a new stimulus program. Instead, the money is available through an overlooked tax credit, and you must act fast to claim it.
Wait — Are $1,400 Stimulus Checks Really Back?
Not exactly. There are no new $1,400 stimulus checks being sent out in 2025 under any new legislation. However, the IRS is issuing payments automatically to eligible taxpayers who missed out on the third stimulus back in 2021 — the one passed under the American Rescue Plan during the pandemic.
If you didn’t receive that check — or if you didn’t get the full amount you were owed — you still have time to claim it through something called the Recovery Rebate Credit. But there’s a deadline: you must file a 2021 federal tax return by April 15, 2025.
Who’s Still Eligible for the $1,400 Stimulus Credit?
This is where things get specific. The Recovery Rebate Credit is designed for people who:
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Didn’t get the full $1,400 per person in 2021 (including dependents)
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Earned under the income threshold:
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$75,000 or less (single)
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$112,500 (head of household)
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$150,000 (married filing jointly)
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Have a valid Social Security number
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Are not claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return
If you qualify and never filed your 2021 tax return — or didn’t claim the credit — you may still get the money.
IRS Already Sending Payments to Some
In a move that surprised many, the IRS began issuing automatic payments earlier this year to about 1 million taxpayers who had filed 2021 returns but never claimed the credit. These checks, totaling over $2.4 billion, started hitting bank accounts and mailboxes in January 2025 — with no action required from recipients.
But here’s the big warning: if you haven’t filed a 2021 return yet, you won’t get anything automatically. You must file before April 15, 2025 to unlock this money.
Don’t Fall for Scams
With renewed buzz about stimulus payments, scammers are back in full force. Fraudsters are using fake emails, texts, and even social media messages claiming to be from the IRS and promising fast stimulus cash — in exchange for personal information. The IRS will never contact you this way or ask for sensitive info via text or email. Always check directly at IRS.gov or speak to a verified tax professional.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?
If you fail to file a 2021 return by the April 15, 2025 deadline, you lose your chance permanently to claim the $1,400 credit. There are no extensions and no second chances.
The Recovery Rebate Credit won’t be available for future tax years — so if you think you were owed money, the time to act is now.
