Unclaimed IRS stimulus checks: Final days to file in 2025

Pile of U.S. dollar bills with government stimulus checks stacked on top, placed in front of a federal IRS-style building

The IRS is urging Americans to act fast as the deadline approaches to claim unclaimed stimulus payments from the COVID-19 relief programs. More than $1 billion in Economic Impact Payments—better known as stimulus checks—remain unclaimed.

Who still qualifies for stimulus checks?

The IRS says that millions of eligible Americans never received their payments from 2020 or 2021 due to:

Not filing a tax return during the pandemic
Address or bank account changes
Believing they were ineligible

If you earned less than the standard filing threshold in those years, you may still be entitled to $1,200, $600, or $1,400 checks, depending on eligibility and prior receipt.

Filing deadline to claim missing payments

To receive any unclaimed stimulus checks, you must file a 2021 tax return by May 17, 2025. That’s the final deadline under IRS guidelines.

Taxpayers who did not receive full payments must file a 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit form to claim the money. This is only available by submitting a return—online or by mail.

How to file if you haven’t yet

Here are the IRS-recommended steps:

Use IRS Free File at irs.gov for returns from 2021.
Choose “Recovery Rebate Credit” when prompted.
Submit your tax return electronically before the May 17 deadline.

If you are unsure whether you received all eligible payments, check your IRS Online Account or look for IRS Notice 1444, 1444-B, or 1444-C, which confirm prior deposits.

Don’t leave money on the table

The average unclaimed amount is over $900 per person, according to the IRS. In some households, that could total more than $3,000 when filing as a family.

Additional benefits you might qualify for

Filing a return may also unlock:

The Child Tax Credit from 2021 (up to $3,600 per child)
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Missed tax refunds for 2021

Final reminder

Time is running out. File your 2021 return now to avoid losing access to stimulus money permanently. The IRS will not reissue payments after the May 17, 2025 deadline.

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