There are just over two weeks until the tax season ends on April 15, 2025, but that is not the topic that has brought us here. I only mention it because that date also coincides with the deadline to claim stimulus checks issued in 2021 and that a million Americans have yet to claim, even four years later in 2025.
Just over 1 million Americans are entitled to collect unspent stimulus checks of up to $1,400, which may be lost forever if the application procedure is not completed by April 15. These are payments made under a government effort known as “Economic Impact Payments” that was implemented during the COVID outbreak.
According to the IRS, the majority of those 1 million taxpayers made a mistake on their 2021 tax forms by leaving the “Recover Refund Credit” field blank or filling it out as $0 when they were qualified.
The federal government will distribute more than $2.4 billion in stimulus checks
If you are qualified to get this money, you will most likely not be required to complete any further documentation. However, if you have not yet submitted your 2021 tax return, you still have time to do so before receiving the payout.
This applies even if you earned very little or nothing that year. The only requirement is that you complete your declaration and deliver it by April 15, which is the deadline.
The government will issue payments automatically using data that it currently has. If you regularly get your reimbursements by direct deposit, the monies will be sent to that account. Otherwise, you will get an actual check in the mail. In addition, all recipients will get an official letter verifying the payment amount and manner.
What’s the main key? If you haven’t filed your 2021 taxes yet, make sure you do so by April 15! It is the sole criteria you may need to satisfy to get this benefit.
What happens if I don’t claim my “Recover Refund Credit” by April 15?
If you fail to file your claim by that date, the money will automatically become the property of the Federal Government, with the Treasury taking possession.
This implies that the money will no longer be yours, but will instead be used by the country for administrative expenditures or anything else they feel essential. Once this occurs, there is no going back: you will never see the money again, and there is no way to recover it.