The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) confirmed that as soon as tomorrow, April 15, 2025, will be the last day to claim tax refunds for fiscal year 2021 and unreceived stimulus payments, which, once that date has passed, can no longer be claimed.
Under IRS regulations, taxpayers have three years to request refunds, after which the funds will go to the US Treasury. The entity estimates that more than 1.1 million people have up to $1 billion left over. Once again, it is important that you are clear that there are only a few hours left to claim the benefit from 3 years ago that you have not yet requested.
Why can you still claim a 2021 stimulus payment check?
The IRS applies a general rule that allows you to claim refunds up to three years after the filing due date. For 2021, whose original submission deadline was April 18, 2022, the period would expire on April 18, 2025. However, recent communications specify April 15, 2025 as the deadline, possibly due to calendar adjustments. Those who do not file their return sooner will lose the funds irrevocably.
Taxpayers must also claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, tied to the 2021 stimulus payments, before this deadline. These amounts, up to $1,400 per person, were part of the pandemic economic relief. Over and over again, for the last weeks, the IRS have warned about the urgency of acting, especially for non-filers or those who did not receive full payments.
In December 2024, the IRS began automatic deliveries to 1 million taxpayers who did not claim the credit, with deposits until January 2025. However, this does not exempt the obligation to file the return if it has not already been done.
Not everyone qualifies to receive the 2021 stimulus payment, but maybe you do
To access the refunds and credits, taxpayers must have been US citizens or qualified residents in 2021, meet income thresholds — such as an AGI of less than $75,000 for singles — and not be dependents on other returns. Low-income people who don’t typically file taxes can use tools like the IRS Non-Filers Tool.
An anonymous IRS official told us that refunds could be withheld if there are outstanding debts, such as back taxes or support payments. In addition, those who have not submitted 2022 and 2023 returns will have their returns blocked until their situation is regularized. Verification of eligibility and payment status can be done through an IRS.gov account.
These documents are required to claim your check from the IRS
The IRS recommends filing the 2021 return electronically to speed up the process and opt for direct deposit. Required documents include forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498, which should be requested from employers or financial institutions if they are not available. Those who need to correct previous returns can use Form 1040-X, with a limit of three amendments annually for the previous two years.
The median refund for 2021 is $781, according to official data. The IRS urges you to act quickly, as processing can take up to six weeks. Tools like Get Transcript Online allow you to access income records, while 800-908-9946 makes it easy to request transcripts by mail.