April Cutoff Nears for IRS $1,400 Stimulus Check – How to Claim Now

Are you one of the millions of Americans who might still qualify for a $1,400 stimulus check? If that is the case, you need to act now! The deadline for April 15, 2025, is approaching quickly, and this is your final opportunity to get this critical financial assistance.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has recognized more than a million taxpayers eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) for the year of 2021 who have no longer received it—and you’ll be one of them.

Consider this scenario similar to discovering cash in the pocket of an old jacket—but remember, the jacket will be given away soon, and any cash remaining in the pocket will be lost forever. The same will happen if you don’t meet the April 15 deadline—your possible $1,400 will belong to the US Treasury, and you will not be able to retrieve it later.

Whether you’re not typically the type to file taxes, you’re a retiree who has Social Security depend on it, or you just forgot about claiming this credit when you filed 2021, this article is going to break down the facts so you can receive your stimulus funds in time.

Knowing the $1,400 Stimulus Payment

Let’s break this payment. The $1,400 stimulus test was added to the third round of Economic Impact Payments under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. These were payments meant to provide economic aid to Americans ground down by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even though most deserving beneficiaries received theirs automatically in 2021, many individuals never got it for a number of reasons:

• – Filing error on their taxes
• – Failure to file a tax return because they were not obligated to
• – Misunderstanding of eligibility requirements
• – Depending only on non-taxable income like Social Security

The IRS has diagnosed nearly 1,000,000 taxpayers who submitted 2021 returns, but left the Recovery Rebate Credit box blank or entered it in error as $0.

For these people, the IRS is automatically mailing payments. However, in the event you did not now file a 2021 tax return, you need to act on or before April 15, 2025, to receive your award.

Overall, approximately $2.4 billion in bills are to be distributed, according to the IRS. That’s a big sum of money that could make a massive difference in people’s lives —however, only in the event that they receive it in time.

Who is eligible for the $1,400 payment?

Eligibility for the Recovery Rebate Credit depends mainly on your income and filing status in 2021. Here’s a breakdown of who may be eligible:

• – Single Filers: If your adjusted gross income (AGI) was $75,000 or less, you’ll get the full payment, and the amount will phase out at $80,000.
• – Married Couples (Shared Return Filers): If your combined AGI was $150,000 or less, you’ll get the full payment of $2,800 (i.e., $1,400 each), which will phase out at $160,000.
• – Heads of Household: If your AGI was $112,500 or less, you’ll receive the full payment, and it will phase out at comparable stages.

In addition, you must also satisfy the following requirements:

• – You should have a valid Social Security number.
• – You should not be a dependent on another person’s tax return.

It is especially crucial that the individuals who earned low income or did not earn income in 2021 could also qualify for this payment. Thus, it is very critical for individuals with low income and those who generally have no motive to file a tax return to take action before the deadline.

How to receive a $1,400 payment before the deadline expires

In order to receive your payment on or before April 15, 2025, you must take the following steps:

Individuals who didn’t file a 2021 tax return
If you did not file a tax return for 2021, you should file a return right away so you can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. This is how to do it

1. Get the documents needed: You require your Social Security number, your 2021 income data, and direct deposit information if you wish to be paid early.
2. Select a filing mode: You may file electronically via tax software, utilize the IRS Free File service if your income was below $73,000, or fill out Form 1040 or 1040-SR manually.
3. Complete Form 1040: Be sure to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on line 30.
4. File the return: File electronically for fastest processing, or mail your paper return by April 15, 2025.

Keep in mind that although you may have had lower income in 2021, you still can report a return and claim this credit. The IRS has clarified that this credit can be claimed by individuals who are otherwise not required to file a return.

Individuals who filed a return but did not claim the credit

If you previously submitted your 2021 tax return but didn’t claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, there’s accurate news — the IRS is automatically processing those returns and mailing notices to qualifying taxpayers. You don’t have to do anything.

Automatic payments began in December and are being issued on your bargain via direct deposit (if the IRS has your bank information) or as a paper test.

What occurs if you skip the April 15 cut-off date?

If you cross the April 15, 2025 deadline, it’ll earn you a loss of the $1,400 fee forever.

The IRS has a hard-and-fast three-year deadline for claiming tax credits and refunds, which is April 15, 2025. If it isn’t claimed by then, the money will belong to the US Treasury. The IRS has been adamant that there will be no grace period or general extension.

It’s a train leaving the station—once it’s gone, it won’t be able to be caught.

There are some extremely limited exceptions, most notably:

Troops deployed into combat zones

Individuals victimized by disaster declarations that the President has federally declared
Misprocessing or controversy in IRS handling
But for most taxpayers, the deadline of April 15, 2025, is set and immutable.
Free assistance to file your taxes

If you’re concerned about how much it will cost to file a tax return for just this credit, don’t worry, because there are free resources at your disposal:

• IRS Free File: If you earned less than $73,000 in 2021, you may file your taxes using free tax software on the IRS website.
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA): Free tax assistance for individuals who usually make $60,000 or less, have a disability, and those whose primary language is not English.
• Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE): Free tax assistance for tax filers aged 60 or older.

These resources will guide you through the filing process at no cost, so you’ll be able to receive your $1,400 payment in advance of the deadline.

Conclusion

The deadline for receiving your $1,400 stimulus check is fast approaching. The April 15, 2025 cut-off date is mere days away, and if you happen to be qualified yet have not secured one as of yet, you need to be quick on the draw.

Whether you must report a 2021 tax go-back or plan ahead for an automated price from the IRS, learning your eligibility and performing the necessary actions can ensure you don’t lose out on this vital fiscal assistance.

Keep in mind, it is now not only about receiving more money — it’s about claiming the amount that was primarily reserved to support Americans hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

FAQ’s