In the United States, some of the economic policies put in place during those years are still in effect today, even though the worst of the pandemic appears to be behind us. In 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provided the third economic stimulus check, a direct payment that assisted millions of American families in overcoming the financial strain brought on by the health crisis.
Many Americans got this support without having to do any additional paperwork. However, not everyone was so lucky. Whether due to lack of information, problems with their tax return or simply because they did not qualify at the time, there are still people who can access that money. What many do not know is that they still have time to claim it.
The key is in the so-called Recovery Rebate Credit, a benefit that allows you to apply for the third check even now, in 2025. But as with any official procedure, it is necessary to meet certain requirements and be aware of deadlines. In order to know everything about it we will check what you need to know to take advantage of this opportunity if you did not get the full payment or did not get it at all.
Who can claim the IRS stimulus check in 2025?
The third stimulus payment was up to $1,400 per person, including dependents, regardless of age. This was delivered from March 2021 and was aimed at people who met certain income criteria. Specifically, the full amount was available to those with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of up to:
- $75,000 if they were single taxpayers,
- $112,500 if they were heads of household,
- and $150,000 if they filed jointly.
Above these limits, the amount began to be progressively reduced until it disappeared completely at $80,000 (individuals), $120,000 (heads of household) and $160,000 (couples).
If you did not get this payment or only got part of it, you can apply for it through the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit. The main condition is that you file your tax return for that year by April 15, 2025. Even if you are not normally required to file a return, you will need to do so for the IRS to process the refund.
How to claim the IRS payment
To start, the first thing is to check if you qualify. That is, you must verify that your income in 2021 is within the limits and that you did not get the full payment at the time. If you have doubts, you can review the letters that the IRS sent to those who got the checks or check your payment history on the IRS portal.
Then you will need to file your 2021 tax return. You can do this electronically or on paper, although the digital route is faster and more efficient. On that form, you will need to include the calculation of your Recovery Rebate Credit. The IRS offers online tools and detailed guides to help you complete this step.
Finally, if you are entitled to the credit, the IRS will send you the money as part of your tax refund. If you choose direct deposit, the payment could reach you faster. So basically we can say that there is still time to claim an important benefit that, for various reasons, may have been missed. If you think the IRS’s third stimulus check should have reached you, don’t miss the opportunity to claim it. You have until April 15, 2025 to do so.
