During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government sent stimulus payments to millions of eligible Americans. Those stimulus payments, which were made from April 2020 to December 2021, included temporarily enhanced child tax credits that helped to reduce child poverty in the U.S. But it turns out that millions of people, including lower-income individuals and families, that are eligible for the COVID stimulus payments, and the enhanced child tax credit, didn't receive them.
Thankfully though, the IRS says that some eligible taxpayers may be able to get missed stimulus payments. Depending on your circ*mstances, you may still be able to file a 2021 tax return to find out if you’re eligible to get your stimulus payment, the 2021 child tax credit, or the earned income tax credit.
Can I Still Get a Stimulus Payment?
If you think you’re eligible for a COVID stimulus payment or the 2021 child tax credit, and didn’t already receive those funds, you may still be able to file your 2021 tax return to see if you're eligible to get those funds.
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That's because with respect to the child tax credit, if you don't owe taxes to the IRS, the IRS has said that you can file your 2021 tax return and claim the child tax credit for the 2021 tax year, at any point until April 15, 2025. But because that can get confusing, it's probably best to file for the 2021 tax year as soon as you can.Visit ChildTaxCredit.gov for more information.
According to the Government Accountability Office, groups that were most likely to have missed out on pandemic relief stimulus payments or the child tax credit (or both), were people who never filed a tax return or who filed for the first time during the pandemic. The federal government also had difficulty getting stimulus checks and child tax credits to people without bank accounts or reliable internet access, and people who were experiencing homelessness in 2020 and 2021.
Is Your Stimulus Check Taxable?
If the IRS had banking information on file, COVID stimulus payments were direct deposited. Other stimulus payments and child tax credits were mailed. So, if you didn’t receive stimulus money, or didn’t receive the third stimulus payment, you might be able to claim a recovery rebate credit on your 2021 tax return.
To help get the word out about these tax benefits, the IRS announced in October that it was sending letters to individuals and families who appeared to qualify for these stimulus benefits but did not claim them by filing a 2021 federal income tax return. That included people eligible not only for the 2021 recovery rebate credit and the child tax credit but also the earned income tax credit.
Who is Eligible for the Child Tax Credit 2021?
Eligible Americans with income below $75,000, or married couples with income below $150,000, were eligible for the full amount of three rounds of stimulus payments that were made by the federal government in 2020 and 2021. Those stimulus income limitations also applied to the enhanced child tax credit although partial child tax credits were available for people with higher incomes.
Advance payments of the enhanced child tax credits were sent to people from July to December 2021. The monthly payments were up to $250 or $300 per child, for a period of six months.
Are There Child Tax Credits for 2022?
Even though you may be able to file a 2021 tax return to get your child tax credit (if you didn’t receive it), the federal enhanced 2021 child tax credit program has expired.
There is a chance that Congress could pass legislation to reinstate the enhanced child tax credit, but you’ll probably have to wait until the end of this year to see if that happens.
Is There a Stimulus Check for 2022?
In addition to the pandemic relief stimulus payments and the 2021 child tax credit, you may have heard about so called state stimulus checks. Those stimulus checks are essentially rebates coming from various states—not pandemic stimulus payments from the federal government.
Why are states sending rebate checks? Because of pandemic relief funding, many states have extra cash on hand, and so are sending rebate checks to their residents in 2022. Some states like California, and Massachusetts are still sending those payments. But several other states will send rebates or have already sent them.
To learn more about state stimulus checks, see States Sending Stimulus Checks.
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FAQs
The IRS says that stimulus payments and 2021 child tax credits are still available for eligible individuals who haven't received them. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government sent stimulus payments to millions of eligible Americans.
Can I still get the $1400 stimulus check? ›
There were no stimulus payments during tax year 2022. The $1,400 stimulus payment was only for tax year 2021. If you were not a dependent on the 2021 tax return then when you completed the 2021 tax return you should have gone through the Recovery Rebate Credit of the return.
Can I still get a stimulus check if I was claimed as a dependent in 2021? ›
So, even if your parent doesn't claim you on their return, you still can't claim the stimulus payment if they would have been allowed to claim you. If you were claimed as a dependent on a 2019 or 2020 tax return, you can still claim the 2021 stimulus payment if you were no longer a dependent in 2021.
Can I still claim the 2021 recovery rebate credit? ›
For a missing or partial payment of the stimulus payment in 2021, taxpayers could also file for the credit with their 2021 tax returns (tax returns filed in 2022).
Can I still get the 2021 child tax credit? ›
How can I claim the 2021 Child Tax Credit? While you can no longer get advance payments, you can still get the full amount of the CTC that you are eligible for by filing a 2021 tax return by April 18, 2025.
Is it too late to get a stimulus check? ›
If you haven't received your $3,200 in stimulus checks, you can still claim the full amounts by filing your 2020 and 2021 tax returns by May 17th, 2024. This deadline is essential for those seeking to claim missed payments.
Who gets the latest $1,400 stimulus check? ›
Normally, a taxpayer will qualify for the full amount if they have an adjusted gross income of up to $75,000 for singles and married persons filing a separate return, up to $112,500 for heads of household and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns and surviving spouses.
Who qualifies for the 2021 recovery rebate credit? ›
Generally, if you were a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien in 2021, you were not a dependent of another taxpayer, and you either have a valid SSN or claim a dependent who has a valid SSN or ATIN, you are eligible to claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit.
Can I still get my kids stimulus? ›
If you didn't get the full amount of one or more of these for your eligible children, you can claim the amounts as the Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your 2020 and/or 2021 federal tax return . You can file a 2020 tax return to claim the first and second stimulus checks through April 15, 2024.
How do I qualify for child tax credit 2024? ›
For the year 2023 (when you file your taxes in 2024), the CTC is worth $2,000 for each qualifying child if your modified adjusted gross income is $400,000 or below (married filing jointly) or $200,000 or below (all other filers).
Eligible individuals will get up to $1,400 for each qualifying dependent claimed on their return, including older relatives like college students, adults with disabilities, parents, and grandparents.
Can I still get EIP 1 and 2? ›
There would not be another way to file and claim EIP1 or EIP2, if not previously received. Since the RRC is a refundable credit, eligible taxpayers can e-file their 2020 return to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, even if they had zero income in 2020, but are otherwise eligible.
Can I still get the first stimulus check? ›
It's not too late to get any missed stimulus checks! You will need to file a 2020 tax return to get the first and second stimulus checks and a 2021 tax return to get the third stimulus check. You must file a 2020 tax return by May 17, 2024.
Why didn't I get the Child Tax Credit in 2021? ›
You probably did not have enough income from working to get the refundable additional child tax credit --which is based on how much you earned from working.
Who qualifies for the 2021 Child Tax Credit? ›
Be under age 17 at the end of the year. Be your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, or a descendant of one of these (for example, a grandchild, niece or nephew) Provide no more than half of their own financial support during the year.
Why don't I qualify for Child Tax Credit? ›
Financial support: You must have provided at least half of the child's support during the last year. In other words, if your qualified child financially supported themselves for more than six months, they're likely considered not qualified.
Is the government really giving out $1400 a month? ›
In general, most people will get $1,400 for themselves and $1,400 for each of their qualifying dependents claimed on their tax return. As with the first two Economic Impact Payments in 2020, most Americans will receive their money without having to take any action.
How do I know if I qualify for $1,400 stimulus? ›
Check if you qualify for the Golden State Stimulus II
- Filed your 2020 taxes by October 15, 2021.
- Had a California Adjusted Gross Income (CA AGI) of $1 to $75,000 for the 2020 tax year. ...
- Had wages of $0 to $75,000 for the 2020 tax year.
- Been a California resident for more than half of the 2020 tax year.
Your Online Account: Securely access your individual IRS account online to view the total of your first, second and third Economic Impact Payment amounts under the “Economic Impact Payment Information” section on the Tax Records page.
What to do if I have not received my $1400 stimulus check? ›
To start a payment trace:
Call the IRS at 800-919-9835.
