If you missed out on the third round of stimulus checks from 2021, the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) is giving you one last chance to claim it. The final date to file your 2021 tax return and receive any missing $1,400 Economic Impact Payment is April 15, 2025. After this date, any unclaimed money will be lost forever and handed over to the U.S. Treasury.
This is a crucial reminder for anyone who didn’t file taxes in 2021—especially low-income individuals who may not have known they were eligible.
Why Is April 15, 2025, So Important?
The IRS provides a three-year window to file and claim any refunds or tax credits from past returns. Since the third stimulus check was tied to the 2021 tax year, this window closes on April 15, 2025. This includes:
- The $1,400 stimulus check
- Any other refunds or refundable credits from 2021 (like the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, or Recovery Rebate Credit)
If you don’t file your 2021 tax return by this deadline, you lose the right to claim the money.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?
Missing the deadline has serious consequences:
- You will permanently lose your $1,400 stimulus check.
- Any refunds or credits from 2021 will also be forfeited.
- The unclaimed money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.
According to the IRS, over one million Americans may still be eligible to receive these funds, but only if they file their 2021 return in time.
Who Is Most at Risk of Missing Out?
Many people who didn’t need to file taxes in 2021 (such as low-income households, students, or senior citizens) may not realize they have to file a return to claim the stimulus.
Others may have:
- Received only a part of the payment
- Missed it altogether
- Thought they were not eligible, but actually were
To claim the full amount, they must file a 2021 tax return and use Line 30 of the IRS Form 1040 to request the Recovery Rebate Credit.
Can You Still File for This Payment?
Yes, you can still file your 2021 return if you act before April 15, 2025. The process is simple:
- Collect your 2021 documents (like W-2s or 1099s)
- Download Form 1040 or use the IRS Free File system
- Enter the correct information on Line 30
- Submit it electronically or by mail before the deadline
Help is available through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program or IRS Free Tax Prep, especially for people earning under $64,000 a year.
What If You File After April 15?
If you’re owed a refund, there’s usually no penalty for late filing. But once this specific three-year deadline ends, you will lose the right to claim the 2021 stimulus or any related refund.
For your current year’s return (2024), you’ll have until 2029 to file, but that doesn’t apply to 2021 stimulus checks.
The clock is ticking for anyone who missed their 2021 stimulus payment. The $1,400 Economic Impact Payment was a major part of the COVID-19 relief package, and if you didn’t receive it, the IRS is giving you one final chance to claim it.
But time is almost up: April 15, 2025 is the absolute last day to file your 2021 tax return and get this money. Don’t let it go unclaimed—file your return now, even if you had little or no income in 2021. This is your money, and you deserve to get it back.