The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has confirmed that over 1 million eligible Americans have yet to claim a $1,400 stimulus check. The deadline is approaching fast, and therefore, these individuals have to hurry and file their 2021 tax return by April 15, 2025, to qualify.
This payment is part of the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC), which was part of the third round of COVID-19 economic impact payments under the American Rescue Plan. In 2021, many eligible Americans received their checks automatically, but others missed out because of errors when filing returns, failing to file a tax return, and confusion about eligibility.
Reasons Why Some Americans Have Not Received the $1,400 Stimulus Check
According to the IRS, many Americans have not claimed their $1,400 Stimulus check because of;
- Errors when filing their 2021 tax return.
- Doubting if they qualify or not because of low income and reliance on Social Security benefits.
- Thinking the payments were already sent to them.
- Failing to file a 2021 tax return.
To prevent the Americans from not receiving their stimulus check, the IRS has set up an automatic process of sending payments by direct deposit or mail. All one has to do is ensure they have filed their 2021 tax return and that they have not received the payments yet.
Eligibility to Claim the $1,400 Stimulus Check
You qualify for the $1,400 Stimulus check if;
- Your are a legal resident of the United States and with a valid Social Security number in 2021.
- You were not listed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return.
- You are yet to receive the stimulus payment in 2021.
- You did not file a 2021 tax return. If you did, then the automatic payments were already sent.
People with little to no income in 2021 are advised to claim the stimulus check. This payment will be crucial for low-income individuals and for retirees who rely heavily on SSI, Social Security, or VA benefits.
How to Claim Your Stimulus Check Before the April 15, 2025, Deadline
If you have never received your $1,400 stimulus check, you must do the following before April 15, 2025;
- File a 2021 tax return even if you don’t file taxes.
- Use the IRS Free File program through which you file your return.
- File a tax return by mail or online.
- Get help from the IRS if you need help filing your 2021 tax return.
Why You Should Claim This $1,400 Stimulus Check
For many Americans, this stimulus check is not extra money; instead, it’s an amount that could significantly impact their financial life. Lisa Perkins, the director of the UConn Law Tax Clinic, said, “An extra $1,400 can make an enormous difference, especially for families already struggling with food insecurity and rising prices.”
The CEO of 9i Capital Group also stated, “For most, this money has already been spent or will be used to pay down debt.” The personal financial impact is real, even if it doesn’t move the economy as a whole.”
Other Benefits You Could Receive Besides the Stimulus Check
Filing your 2021 tax return, which is a requirement for those claiming the $1,400 stimulus check, will also make you eligible for other pandemic-era benefits such as; Child Tax Credit (CTC) meant for households with kids and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) meant for low-income workers.
Conclusion
The IRS has confirmed that the deadline to claim your $1,400 Stimulus check is April 15, 2025. Therefore, ensure you meet all the requirements and most importantly, file a 2021 tax return before the deadline. You can file by visiting IRS.gov or by mail. Low-income earners or those with no income at all are advised to apply for the stimulus check because they are also qualified.