Am I eligible for Stimulus Check?
Answer
If you have an IRS account, you can check that account to see if you have received any Economic Impact Payments (stimulus checks) already. The IRS Online Account for Individuals page provides information on how to sign in to your account or how to set up an account if you don’t already have one. It also describes some alternative methods to finding your account information.
The Recovery Rebate Credit is a refundable credit for individuals who did not receive one or more Economic Impact Payments (EIP), also known as stimulus payments. In December 2024, the IRS began issuing payments to eligible people who did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. All payments should be received by late January 2025, and taxpayers do not need to take any action to receive these payments.
If you didn’t file a 2021 tax return, you can still receive a Recovery Rebate Credit, but you must file a 2021 return even if you didn’t owe taxes.
The deadline for filing the 2021 return to get the Recovery Rebate Credit is April 15, 2025.
It is too late to file the 2021 form electronically, but you can download and print a paper 2021 1040 form at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040--2021.pdf
There is also a 2021 1040-SR form for seniors. It is exactly the same as the 1040 form, except the print is larger for ease of reading: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040s--2021.pdf
Line 30 is where you claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. Instructions for this line are in the Instruction Booklet at page 57: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/i1040gi--2021.pdf#page=57
The mailing address for returning the form is listed on the back page of the instructions: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/i1040gi--2021.pdf#page=114
If you need assistance filing your return, there is help available for disabled or elderly persons, or if you meet certain other qualifications, through the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers
For more information, see this article from the IRS: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-announces-special-payments-going-this-month-to-1-million-taxpayers-who-did-not-claim-2021-recovery-rebate-credit-encourages-non-filers-about-approaching-deadline-to-claim-credits
If you have any further questions that are not answered on the pages linked above, you can contact the IRS online, by phone, or in person: https://www.irs.gov/help/let-us-help-you
Bobby Griffith
Lead Government Information Reference Associate
Sycamore Library
University of North Texas Libraries