Missing Out on Your Stimulus Check? Here’s How to Get It

If you think you’ve missed out on one of the COVID-19 stimulus checks, don’t worry — you may still be able to claim it. Even though most people have already received their payments, some individuals might not have received the full amount or any payment at all. You can still claim this money through what’s called the Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC).

These payments, issued during the pandemic by both the Trump and Biden administrations, were designed to help Americans navigate the economic challenges brought by COVID-19. If you didn’t get your payment or only received a portion of it, here’s how you can claim what’s rightfully yours.

Who Can Claim

You’re eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit if you didn’t receive one or more of the stimulus checks or if the payment you received was less than what you were entitled to. This credit can be claimed when filing your 2020 or 2021 federal tax returns, depending on which round of stimulus payments you missed.

The IRS has made it clear that:

• The first and second rounds of payments were advance payments of the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, which should have been reflected on your 2020 tax return.
• The third round of payments, issued in March 2021, was an advance payment of the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit.

If you didn’t get the full payment for any of these rounds, you can claim the credit when you file the corresponding year’s tax return.

Steps to Claim the Recovery

Claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit is a relatively simple process, but you’ll need to ensure you have all the necessary information to avoid errors and delays.

1. Gather Information

First, you need to confirm how much you’ve already received from the Economic Impact Payments. This will help ensure that you calculate the correct amount of the credit. The easiest way to verify this is by checking Letter 6475, which the IRS sent in early 2022 to summarize the third payment. If you didn’t get this letter, you can access your payment information through your IRS Online Account.

2. Calculate Your Credit

Once you have the amounts, use the Recovery Rebate Credit Worksheet, available with Form 1040. You can also use tax preparation software to help you calculate the credit. Enter the payment amounts into the software, and it will automatically calculate the credit you’re eligible to receive.

3. File Your Tax Return

To claim the 2020 or 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit, you’ll need to file a tax return for the corresponding year. If you’re missing payments from 2020 (the first and second rounds), you need to file or amend your 2020 tax return. For the third round of payments, include the credit on your 2021 tax return.

Make sure not to mix up the years — payments from 2020 should be claimed on your 2020 return, while the third payment from 2021 goes on your 2021 return.

4. File Electronically

Filing your tax return electronically is the best way to speed up the process and avoid potential mistakes. This method helps ensure accuracy in calculating the credit, plus it gets processed faster by the IRS. If you’re owed a refund, filing electronically also allows for direct deposit into your bank account, which is faster than receiving a paper check.

Stimulus Payments

If you’ve already received the full amount for each of the Economic Impact Payments, there’s no need to do anything when filing your taxes. However, if your financial situation changed in 2021, you might still be eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit, particularly if your income or dependents were different.

In such cases, the credit will be based on your 2021 financial status, and any remaining amount can either reduce your taxes or be added to your refund.

Required Documentation

The most important piece of documentation you’ll need is Letter 6475, which outlines how much you received from the third stimulus payment. If you misplaced it, you can find the details in your IRS Online Account. Just ensure you use this information when calculating the credit to avoid errors.

It’s also crucial to avoid including the first two stimulus payments on your 2021 tax return. If you’re missing payments from those earlier rounds, you need to claim them on your 2020 tax return instead.

Payment

The simplest and safest way to file is online. When filing, you’ll be prompted to enter your bank details if you’re due a refund. Once the IRS processes your return, any remaining stimulus payment can be added to your refund and deposited directly into your bank account or loaded onto a prepaid card.

Filing electronically also helps avoid delays that can happen when mailing in paper returns. By filing online, you’ll typically receive your refund much faster, sometimes in just a few weeks.

Claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit is an essential step to ensure you receive all the stimulus money you’re entitled to. Even if you haven’t filed taxes recently, you can still file a return to claim this credit and secure the payments you missed.

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