The Recovery Rebate Credit — part of the pandemic-era economic impact checks — remains available to those who never received one and have yet to submit a 2021 return.
Under IRS rules, taxpayers have a three-year window to file and claim any refund they’re owed. Once that window closes, the opportunity — and the money — vanishes into federal coffers.
“If you didn’t get the stimulus, you’re running out of time,” Syracuse University law professor Robert Nassau told CNBC in an interview.
If you’re one of those people, here’s what you need to know and what you can do before April 15.
What is the relief?
The American Rescue Plan Act, introduced by former President Joe Biden, delivered widespread financial relief during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a significant portion of its benefits remains unclaimed. Despite efforts to distribute stimulus payments, expand unemployment benefits and support small businesses and local governments, many eligible individuals were inadvertently left out.
According to the IRS, approximately one million taxpayers missed out on claiming certain credits — largely due to filing errors, confusion over eligibility requirements or simply not realizing they qualified. In total, an estimated $2.4 billion in relief remains unclaimed.
“Looking at our internal data, we realized that one million taxpayers overlooked claiming this complex credit when they were actually eligible," IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a recent statement. The combination of the credit’s complexity and a general lack of awareness has left substantial aid on the table — money that could still be recovered by those who take the necessary steps.
What can you do now?
Eligible taxpayers don’t need to lift a finger to receive the latest stimulus check — the IRS began issuing payments automatically in December, via direct deposit or paper check, and continued through late January. Notification letters were sent by mail.
However, if you didn’t file your 2021 tax return, you may not have received the payment. The IRS uses 2021 returns to determine eligibility. So if yours is missing, your stimulus payment might be too. Fortunately, free filing options are available, including those accessible through the IRS website.
Even individuals with little or no income in 2021 are encouraged to file. All that’s required is a valid Social Security number and that you weren't claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return.
Victoria Vesovski is a Toronto-based staff reporter at Moneywise covering personal finance, lifestyle and trending news. She holds degrees from the University of Toronto and New York University, and her work has appeared on platforms including Yahoo Finance, MSN Money and Apple News.
