Uncle Sam might owe you some money. On Dec. 20, the IRS announced plans to send a total of $2.4 billion in "special payments" to approximately 1 million taxpayers in the coming weeks.
Starting this month, the agency will begin dispersing funds to eligible taxpayers who did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. The credit was designed for people who did not receive the full amount of their pandemic stimulus payments, known as Economic Impact Payments (EIPs).
The payments will vary, with a maximum of $1,400 per recipient.
Who qualifies?
Lawmakers authorized three EIPs, the first two in 2020 and a third in 2021, to help Americans who were struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most taxpayers who were eligible have already received their stimulus checks or Recovery Rebate Credit. However, “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 statement. Taxpayers who left the Recovery Rebate Credit field on their 2021 tax return blank or wrote "$0" may be eligible for the new payments.
How do I receive my payment?
If you qualify for a 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit, you’ll receive a letter of notification, but you don’t need to take any action to receive the funds. “To minimize headaches and get this money to eligible taxpayers, we’re making these payments automatic, meaning these people will not be required to go through the extensive process of filing an amended return to receive it,” Werfel said.
The payment will be automatically deposited to the bank account that you listed on your 2023 tax return. If you’ve closed that bank account or didn't list one, the IRS will send a check to your mailing address on record.
The IRS said the payments will start going out this month and be issued to most recipients by late January 2025. Your credit's value will depend on a variety factors, including your income, filing status and number of dependents.
What if I didn’t file my 2021 taxes?
If, for some reason, you have not filed your 2021 tax return yet, you might still be eligible for a refund of up to $1,400, but you must file the return by April 15, 2025, the IRS said.
