The IRS is sending stimulus checks. How much are you entitled to?

On By Littum

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Texans who didn’t receive a stimulus check from the Recovery Rebate Credit in 2021 could get a surprise deposit.

Internal Revenue Service has announced that it will begin issuing payments later this month to a million taxpayers who missed claiming them when they filed their 2021 tax returns.

The IRS said the decision came after reviewing internal data that showed eligible taxpayers who filed a return were not claiming the credit. The Recovery Rebate Credit is a “refundable credit for individuals who have not received one or more Economic Impact Payments (EIP), also known as stimulus payments,” according to the IRS.

“When we looked 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 press release. “To minimize headaches and get this money to eligible taxpayers, we’re making these payments automatic, meaning these people won’t be required to go through the extensive process of submitting an amended return to receive it.”

How can you receive a stimulus check and how do you know if you are eligible? Here’s what you need to know.

What do I need to do to receive a stimulus check?

According to the IRSeligible taxpayers need do nothing to receive the stimulus payments, which automatically expired in December and were due to arrive in late January of this year.

Taxpayers will receive the payments either by direct deposit or paper check, the IRS said. The payment is deposited directly into the bank account indicated on the eligible person’s tax return for 2023 or sent to the registered address.

How do I know if I am eligible for the stimulus payment?

Eligible taxpayers will receive a separate letter notifying them of the incoming stimulus payment.

In addition to the notice letters, taxpayers can also look back on their 2021 tax returns and see if they left the Recover Rebate Credit field blank or filled it in as $0. The IRS states that those receiving the payment are “taxpayers for whom IRS data indicates eligibility for the credit.”

How much money will I get?

Stimulus payments will vary, but the maximum amount an eligible taxpayer can receive is $1,400, according to the IRS.

The total estimated amount dispersed nationwide is $2.4 billion, the Internal Revenue Service said.

What if I didn’t file a tax return for 2021?

Those who did not file a 2021 tax return could still be eligible to receive the stimulus check if they file their 2021 return and claim the recovery rebate credit by April 15, 2025, the IRS said.

“Eligible taxpayers who have not filed must file a tax return to claim a recovery discount credit even if their income from a job, business or other source was minimal or nonexistent,” according to the IRS.

— USA TODAY contributed to this report.