IRS Sending $1,400 Checks to Million Americans—Is Your Payment On the Way?

Race Day Live –  In December 2024, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced plans to issue automatic $1,400 stimulus payments to eligible individuals who missed out on the Recovery Rebate Credit in their 2021 tax returns. This payment is part of the Economic Impact Payment (EIP) program that was initiated during the Covid-19 pandemic to provide financial relief to Americans.

The IRS identified that many taxpayers had filed returns but failed to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, a refundable credit available to individuals who did not receive one or more of the three rounds of Economic Impact Payments (EIP).

The maximum payment is $1,400 per person, and it will be distributed to approximately one million eligible taxpayers. If you are one of these individuals, you may soon receive your payment.

How to Qualify for the $1,400 Stimulus Payment

Eligibility for the $1,400 payment is automatic for those who meet the following criteria:

• Filed a 2021 tax return but did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.
• Received no or partial Economic Impact Payments in previous rounds.
• Have a bank account registered on their 2023 return, ensuring direct deposit.

Eligible taxpayers will receive their payments without needing to file an amended return. For those who are to receive their payment via check, the IRS will mail the checks at the end of January 2025 to the address on file.

Payment Timeline

What to Do if You Are Eligible

If you qualify for the $1,400 stimulus payment, there is no action required on your part. The IRS has already identified eligible taxpayers and will issue the payments automatically. Those who have registered a bank account for their 2023 tax return should have already received their direct deposit. However, if you receive a paper check, it will arrive by the end of January 2025.

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel emphasized the convenience of this process, stating, “In an effort to minimize burden and get this money to taxpayers as quickly as possible, we are issuing these payments automatically. This means people eligible for this relief will not have to go through the extensive process of filing an amended return to receive it.”

Why Are Some People Receiving This Payment?

The IRS reported that most eligible taxpayers have already received their federal stimulus payments. However, a group of taxpayers had filed a 2021 tax return but either left the Recovery Rebate Credit field blank or entered $0 when they were actually eligible. These individuals will now receive the $1,400 payment automatically as part of this new round of stimulus payments.