Millions of people in the United States have lost their opportunity to receive the $1,400 stimulus cheque for 2021. On April 15, 2025, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) closed the filing deadline for that year’s return, as well as the right to request any pending refunds from that return, including stimulus payments.
Although this money was some of the most crucial assistance provided during the pandemic, many people, particularly those with modest incomes, were unaware that they needed to file a tax return to get it. Unfortunately, the deadline has gone, and there is no longer a legal way to obtain it back.
Tax regulations establish a three-year time limit for claiming refunds, and once that term is exceeded, the money are sent immediately to the United States Treasury, with no chance of appeal or exception.
The $1,400 stimulus Cheque can no longer be claimed
The third batch of Economic Impact Payments was made in 2021, and those who did not get the entire amount were able to recover the difference on their tax return for that year via the Recovery Rebate Credit.
However, because the return was due in April 2022, the IRS only extended the deadline until April 15, 2025. Those who did not reach the deadline have permanently waived their right to a refund.
This affects more than just the stimulus. It includes further tax benefits for 2021, such as:
- Refundable Tax Credits
- Refunds for withholding from salaries
- Any additional pending IRS payments for that year
The loss of these monies can amount to hundreds or thousands of dollars per person, and there is no longer any administrative way to reclaim them.
Why were so many people left out of the bill?
The most affected are people who had low incomes in 2021 and were not obligated by law to file a return. In many cases, individuals were unaware that this was required in order to receive the reimbursement. Others assumed they had already received the whole amount without verifying its accuracy.
According to the IRS, more than one million Americans had not to claim their 2021 refunds when the deadline expired. All of those money are now part of the Treasury.
For future tax years, keep in mind the basic IRS rule: taxpayers have three years from the filing deadline for each return to receive any refund or tax credit. After that time, the money is lost permanently.
Although the 2021 stimulus check is no longer available, taxpayers can verify their returns for more recent years (such as 2022 or 2023) to ensure there are no other refunds waiting. Keeping up with the IRS can have a significant impact on a household’s financial stability.
