More than 1 million Americans are being urged by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to claim their $1,400 stimulus cheque associated with the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) prior to the deadline of April 15.
Those who did not receive the entire amount and have not yet completed their 2021 tax return can still access this payment, which was a part of the third round of COVID-19 economic impact checks.
The Significance of It
Authorized in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan, the $1,400 payments were intended to help Americans affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. Due to paperwork problems or ignorance of the Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC), many qualified beneficiaries missed out on their payouts, even though the majority received them automatically.
Some taxpayers failed to claim the credit because they were unclear about the eligibility requirements or thought they didn’t have to file, according to IRS officials. Others might have mistakenly believed they were ineligible because they only relied on non-taxable income sources, such Social Security benefits. The IRS calculates that around $2.4 billion in payments are still unclaimed overall.
What You Must Understand
The IRS examined 2021 tax returns where the RRC field was either left blank or falsely represented as $0. This allowed the IRS to identify about 1 million taxpayers who qualified for the stimulus payout.
These taxpayers are now getting automatic payments through mail or direct deposit, with amounts ranging depending on a number of circumstances, up to a maximum of $1,400. A supplemental letter informing impacted taxpayers will also be sent by the IRS.
Nonetheless, the $1,400 reward could still be lost by those who did not file a 2021 tax return. They have until April 15 to submit their 2021 tax return in order to be eligible for the credit. The IRS website may offer free filing options to some taxpayers.
The credit is especially crucial for low-income people or those who don’t normally file tax returns since, as the IRS has stressed, even those with little to no income in 2021 can claim it.
In order to be eligible, taxpayers need to:
✅ A valid Social Security number
✅ Not be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return
Those filing a 2021 return may also be eligible for additional pandemic-era benefits such as the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which could significantly increase their refund amount.
For assistance, the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers are available to help taxpayers file their 2021 tax return or verify eligibility. Appointments and locations can be found on the IRS website.
Expert Opinions
In December, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said:
“The IRS is putting a lot of effort into helping and improving for people.
These payments demonstrate our dedication to going above and above.
Despite being eligible, we found that more than a million taxpayers had not taken advantage of this complicated credit.
Alex Bean, a University of Tennessee financial literacy instructor, told Newsweek:
“This relates to a certain population that was eligible for pandemic-era benefits in 2021 but did not claim them, even though many Americans are perplexed by the stimulus cheques anticipated in 2025. Nearly a million Americans were eligible to $1,400 payments, but they missed them due to filing errors.
Lisa Perkins, a tax specialist and the director of the UConn Law Tax Clinic, stressed:
“Now that we’re in a post-COVID period with rising costs for essentials like food and personal care, an extra $1,400 could make a significant difference—especially for families facing food insecurity.”
Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group, added:
“This will not affect inflation, but it is a welcome financial boost for individuals who qualify.
A large portion of this money has already been accounted for and is frequently used to settle debt, which is on the rise, especially for families with lower to middle incomes.
Final Reminder
If you believe you’re eligible for the $1,400 stimulus check, don’t wait—file your 2021 tax return before April 15 to claim your payment. Visit the IRS website for more details on how to file for free and ensure you don’t miss out on this financial relief.
