The $1,400 Stimulus Check Deadline Has Passed: What Happened and What You Should Know

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government distributed stimulus payments across three distinct rounds to help eligible individuals and families weather the economic crisis. The third and largest round occurred in 2021 under the American Rescue Plan Act, which provided payments of up to $1,400 per eligible individual—including dependents. For a family of four, this meant potential payments totaling $5,600. However, many taxpayers never received these funds due to paperwork errors or failure to file tax returns for that year.

The critical deadline to claim the $1,400 stimulus check came on April 15, 2025, when the tax filing window for the 2021 tax year officially closed. While this date has now passed, the situation created significant consequences for those who missed the opportunity.

Understanding Who Qualified for the $1,400 Payment

To be eligible for the third economic impact payment, you must not have already received it during the government’s coronavirus relief programs. Eligibility depended primarily on your adjusted gross income (AGI) for the 2021 tax year.

For the full $1,400 per individual and dependent, your AGI needed to be $75,000 or less for single filers, or $150,000 or less for those filing jointly. The payment then phased out for higher earners, with no assistance for those whose AGI exceeded $80,000 for single filers or $160,000 for joint filers.

Many people missed receiving their $1,400 stimulus check simply because they didn’t file a tax return in 2021. Even if you earned no income and typically wouldn’t file taxes, filing in 2021 would have been necessary to claim this payment.

The April 15, 2025 Deadline and Its Aftermath

In December 2024, the IRS announced plans to automatically send stimulus payments to approximately 1 million taxpayers who should have received them but missed out due to administrative errors. However, this announcement only partially addressed the broader problem of unclaimed payments.

When April 15, 2025 arrived, it marked the final opportunity to file back taxes for the 2021 tax year and claim any outstanding $1,400 stimulus payments. Notably, e-filing became unavailable for that tax year, meaning anyone attempting to file had to submit physical paper returns through the mail.

Options for Those Who Missed the Deadline

Now in 2026, taxpayers who failed to claim the $1,400 stimulus check by the April 2025 deadline face a more complicated situation. While the standard filing window has closed, certain circumstances may still allow you to claim the payment:

First, you can attempt to file an amended or late return, though this requires meeting specific IRS requirements and explaining the delay. The agency may consider requests from taxpayers with legitimate reasons for missing the deadline.

Second, beyond the stimulus payment itself, filing back taxes for 2021 could make you eligible for other tax credits and benefits you may have missed, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit. These additional benefits might offset the loss of the stimulus payment with other valuable tax advantages.

To check whether you previously received any of the three rounds of economic impact payments, you can create or log into an account on the IRS website. Within the Tax Records section, the “Economic Impact Payment Information” page shows your payment history, though for most people, the opportunity to claim the third payment has now expired.

The $1,400 stimulus check deadline remains a crucial reminder of the importance of filing taxes promptly, even in situations where you might not normally be required to do so. While the window to claim this specific payment has closed for most taxpayers, exploring amended return options or pursuing other available tax credits through professional tax preparation services may still yield financial benefits.