How to Claim Your $1,400 Stimulus Check from the IRS – Step by Step Process

If you never received your $1,400 stimulus check—or think you got less than you were owed—there’s still time to get that money. Thanks to the IRS’s Recovery Rebate Credit, eligible Americans can claim missed or partial payments by filing a 2021 tax return. But the clock is ticking: the deadline to file is June 15, 2025. Here’s how to check if you’re eligible, file your claim, and avoid losing out.

Overview

The $1,400 stimulus payment was part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and marked the third round of COVID-19 relief. While most people got their payments automatically in 2021, others—especially those with changes in income, dependents, or no previous tax filing—may have slipped through the cracks.

Topic	Details
Payment Amount	$1,400 per eligible person
Claim Method	Recovery Rebate Credit via 2021 tax return
Deadline to File	June 15, 2025
Eligibility	U.S. citizens and residents with valid SSNs
IRS Help	Available at irs.gov
Payment Method	Direct deposit or mailed paper check

Eligibility

You could still be eligible for the full $1,400 if you meet these criteria:

Income Requirements:

• Individuals: Earned up to $75,000
• Heads of Household: Up to $112,500
• Married Couples (Joint): Up to $150,000
• Partial payments were phased out up to:
  • $80,000 (single)
  • $120,000 (head of household)
  • $160,000 (joint)

Other Conditions:

• You must have a valid Social Security number
• Dependents must also have an SSN or ATIN
• You must file a 2021 tax return even if you normally don’t file

How to Claim

Missed out on the payment? Here’s what you need to do:

1. Check Eligibility

Log in to your IRS Online Account to see what stimulus payments you already received. If you got less than $1,400, you may qualify for the difference.

2. File a 2021 Tax Return

Even if you don’t usually file, you need to do so for 2021 to claim the credit.

• Use IRS Free File or a tax pro
• Avoid paper returns—electronic filing is faster
• Use IRS Form 1040 for 2021 and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit in the designated section

3. Claim the Credit

You’ll need to:

• Refer to IRS Notice 1444-C (sent when stimulus payments were issued)
• Or check your IRS account to verify what you already received
• The missing amount will be added to your refund total

4. Track Your Refund

Use the Where’s My Refund? tool on the IRS website.

• If you opt for direct deposit, expect faster processing
• Paper checks take longer and are mailed to your last known address

What If You Miss the Deadline?

You have until June 15, 2025, to file your 2021 return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. After that date, the window closes, and you permanently forfeit the payment.

Common Problems

• Maybe your income changed or you had a child in 2021
• You can claim additional money for a newborn or dependent added that year

Changed Bank Account or Address

• If your direct deposit failed, the IRS sent a paper check
• File IRS Form 8822 to update your mailing address

Suspect Fraud or Identity Theft?

• Contact the IRS immediately
• You may need to verify your identity to process the claim

FAQs