You might be letting your stimulus money go to waste without even realising it. Over $1.1 billion in IRS refund checks from 2021 remain unclaimed, and the clock is ticking. If you don’t act now, this money will go back to the U.S. Federal Reserve—and you’ll never see it again.
The IRS is reminding taxpayers that the final deadline to claim these 2021 stimulus payments is April 15, 2025. This includes money from the third round of Economic Impact Payments (EIP) issued during the COVID-19 pandemic under the American Rescue Plan.
What Are These Unclaimed Stimulus Checks?
During the pandemic, the U.S. government issued several stimulus checks to help people manage financial hardships. The third round, sent in March 2021, included payments of:
- $1,400 per eligible adult
- $1,400 per qualifying child
These were part of the American Rescue Plan, which followed earlier rounds of $1,200 and $600 payments.
While most people got their checks, about 1 million taxpayers didn’t claim them properly. Either they didn’t file a 2021 tax return, or they made a mistake while filling out the Recovery Rebate Credit section.
Who Can Still Claim These Payments?
You may be able to claim this money if:
- You were eligible for the 2021 stimulus but did not file your tax return that year.
- You filed a return but left the Recovery Rebate Credit field blank or incorrectly marked it as $0.
The IRS began identifying affected individuals and notifying them in December 2024, offering another chance to get their money. But if you haven’t taken action yet, April 15, 2025, is your final chance.
How to Claim Your 2021 IRS Stimulus Check
Here’s what the IRS suggests doing immediately:
- Log in or create an IRS online account to check your records.
- Ask your employer or bank for any documents you may need.
- Request a tax transcript from the IRS to verify what was filed or missed.
If you haven’t filed your 2021 tax return, you need to file it now to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. But be warned—your refund can be delayed or withheld if you haven’t filed your 2022 or 2023 returns either. Also, the IRS may use your refund to cover federal or state debts you owe.
Refund Tracking Timelines
You can check your refund status using the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool or the IRS2Go app. Here’s how long it usually takes:
- Current electronic returns: 24 hours later
- Previous year’s e-filed returns: 3–4 days later
- Paper returns: Up to 4 weeks
Why Is This Year’s Tax Season Complicated?
Due to budget cuts and staff layoffs, the IRS is struggling to manage all the workload. In early 2025, over 6,000 IRS workers were let go under cost-saving moves made by the government. These changes have made it harder for taxpayers to get help and have slowed down refund processing.
While the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 aimed to modernize the IRS, further budget cuts have affected its ability to serve everyone on time.
If you missed your $1,400 stimulus check from 2021, there’s still a small window of opportunity to claim it—but only until April 15, 2025. After that, the IRS will hand over any unclaimed money to the Federal Reserve, and it will be gone for good. Take action now by filing your 2021 return, correcting errors, and checking your IRS account online. Don’t leave money you’re entitled to on the table—act fast before the deadline hits.
