Time is Running Out: Claim Your $1,400 Stimulus Before It's Too Late!

The clock is ticking for some Americans still eligible to claim up to $1,400 in stimulus funds from pandemic-related relief. These payments are tied to the Recovery Rebate Credit, which eligible taxpayers may not have reported on their 2021 tax returns. The final date to file these returns and qualify for the payout is April 15, 2025. Approximately 1.1 million Americans, according to the IRS, have missed out on their tax refunds because they have yet to submit their returns.

Eligible checks, up to $1,400, will be sent through either paper checks or directly deposited into the bank accounts shared with a 2023 tax return. Have you checked to see if you’re missing out on free cash? A potential $1,400 stimulus check may await those who haven’t claimed it yet, so there’s still time for those eligible to meet the deadline.

A substantial number of taxpayers miss out not only on this credit but also on prior-year tax refunds due to unfiled returns. Last December, the IRS initiated disbursements approximating $2.4 billion for the unclaimed Recovery Rebate Credit, benefiting about a million taxpayers. However, the window for eligibility nears its close this April. Additionally, the IRS estimates that 1.1 million Americans are forgoing their tax refunds from 2021, totaling a whopping $1 billion in unclaimed funds.

Failing to meet this deadline means the money will default to the U.S. Treasury’s possession. In Mississippi alone, taxpayers are owed a cumulative $8,283,600, with around 9,600 individuals possibly reclaiming an average of $701 if they haven’t filed their 2021 taxes yet.

The IRS notes that over a million taxpayers did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax return. This refundable credit was designed for those who didn’t receive one or more Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), also known as stimulus checks, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

You don’t need to do anything extra to claim this credit—it’s issued automatically. According to the IRS, these checks, capped at $1,400, will automatically be mailed or directly deposited based on your 2023 tax return information. Accompanying this payment, you’ll receive a separate notification via letter.

If you haven’t filed your 2021 tax returns yet, you still have until April 15, 2025, to submit any past-due returns. While the IRS indicates eligibility for the check doesn’t require additional filings, only filed tax returns will ensure receipt of these funds. Make sure your 2021 taxes are filed to potentially unlock any additional refunds owed.