How to see if you're eligible for $1,400 stimulus check as people find out IRS are still sending them

Eligible individuals can still claim a stimulus check issued by the federal government in 2021—but the application window is closing soon.

In case you’re not sure, a stimulus check is a one-off payment made to qualifying taxpayers by the government.

Engineered to encourage spending during times of economic contraction, these payments can either be delivered via a physical paper check or be directed directly into a bank account.

Each one varies according to the taxpayer’s filing status, and if you didn’t claim yours in 2021 then good news—there’s still a little bit of time.

When were stimulus checks first issued?

You could get $1,400 for free (Olena Malik/Getty Images)

Previously, the federal government handed out Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) authorized in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability (CARES) Act, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021.

A third wave of payments was authorized by Congress in the ARP in May 2021 for particular individuals whose Social Security number (SSN) could not be claimed as a dependent and had an adjusted gross income of less than $75,000, or less than $150,000 if married and filed a joint return, as per the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

How can you receive a stimulus check in 2025?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced it is issuing a Recovery Rebate Credit to all taxpayers who failed to claim stimulus payments on their 2021 tax returns, reports The New York Post.

In December 2024, the federal government began automatically sending stimulus checks to eligible taxpayers, claiming all eligible individuals should have received their dollars by the end of January 2025.

If you didn’t get one, then good news: there’s still time to receive that stimulus in 2025 by filing retroactively.

So, all you have to do is review your filing history, gather your documents, and submit your 2021 return by the deadline. Simple, right?

Who is eligible for a stimulus check in 2025?

Submit your 2021 tax return before April 15 (d3sign/Getty Images)

Individuals who have yet to receive a stimulus check could receive a payment of up to $1,400, as long as they file their 2021 tax return by April 15.

Of course, the quicker you get it in, the more likely you are to receive it with no issues, says the IRS.

Eligible individuals include senior citizens and low-income and self-employed individuals who weren’t required to file tax returns in 2021.

Essentially, if you were qualified to receive the payment in 2021, then you can still claim the money today.

Are you still eligible for a stimulus payment if your income was above maximum limits?

If your gross individual income was more than $75,000, or more than $150,000 if married and filed a joint statement, then you may receive a reduced payment.

However, there's still a chance you won't get a dime of the $1,400.

When is the deadline to get your 2025 stimulus check?

Forbes writes that the IRS has extended the claim period for the 2021 stimulus check until April 15, 2025.

That means you have just less than a month to ensure your 2021 tax return is submitted.

Unfortunately, there will be no further extension and checks will not be sent out automatically to individuals who miss the April 15 deadline, the IRS said.

So once it is gone—it’s gone!