IRS to send stimulus checks to millions of taxpayers: How to claim yours

Billions of dollars worth of stimulus checks are being issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) this month.

Why it matters

An estimated 1 million Americans are getting a financial boost from the IRS for previously unpaid stimulus checks sent out during the coronavirus pandemic, officially known as Economic Impact Payments (EIP).

What to know

The new payments, known as the Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC), are being sent to eligible taxpayers who did not claim the federal stimulus checks they were entitled to as part of their 2021 tax returns. The move comes after an internal review of IRS data that showed , that many eligible taxpayers filed a return but did not claim the credit.

How Much Are Stimulus Checks Worth?

How much you get will “vary depending on several factors,” but the maximum payment is $1,400 per month. Person, the IRS has confirmed.

The estimated outgoing payments amount to approx. 2.4 billion dollars.

Who is entitled to a stimulus check?

Eligible taxpayers are those who filed a 2021 tax return but either left the Recovery Rebate credit field blank or entered $0, despite being eligible for the credit.

How to claim stimulus check

Payments are automatic, meaning you don’t need to do anything if you filed your 2021 tax return. Payments are either automatically deposited into bank accounts or sent by paper check, and recipients also receive a separate letter from the IRS regarding the payments.

If you still need to file for 2021, there is still time. The deadline is April 15 – and you cannot claim the tax debate without filing.

When are the checks received?

The Covid-era payments, first issued four years ago, were sent out in late December 2024 and “should arrive in most cases by late January 2025,” the IRS said.

What people say

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, in a statement issued in December 2024( were actually justified.

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

What’s next

Many people have already received their checks, but if you have yet to file for 2021, it should arrive in the weeks after your return is accepted.