How to Claim Your $2,400 COVID Stimulus Check

If you haven’t claimed your COVID stimulus check yet, the IRS says there’s still time. According to the IRS, people who have not yet filed a 2020 tax return may also be eligible to apply for the Recovery Rebate Credit before the deadline to receive their COVID stimulus check.

How to claim your coronavirus stimulus check

In May 2024, federal tax credits introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic will expire. Therefore, people who have not yet filed a tax return for 2020 will not be able to do so after the May deadline.

People who file a 2020 return before the May deadline will need to apply for the Recovery Rebate Credit to receive their COVID stimulus check. The Recovery Rebate Credit is a refundable credit that even taxpayers who don’t owe can take advantage of it.

Congress issued three rounds of stimulus payments, officially called Economic Impact Payments, in 2020 and early 2021. Most people have already received their COVID-19 stimulus payment, but some may not have received it or may have received a smaller amount.

Anyone who didn’t receive a 2020 payment or received an incorrect amount can claim the credit by filing their 2020 tax return by the May 17, 2024, deadline. This deadline is exactly three years after the original submission deadline in 2021. The deadline for submitting 2021 reports is April 15, 2025.

The IRS also reminds people who didn’t file a 2020 tax return to check if they missed out on a potential tax refund. Refunds are not possible after the May deadline. The agency plans to share information later this month, including state-by-state details for taxpayers who may have overlooked filing and refunding their 2020 taxes.

Who will get it?

To qualify for the Recovery Rebate Credit, you must be a U.S. citizen, green card holder, or eligible resident non-citizen. Additionally, the person must not have been claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer and must have a valid Social Security number.

According to the IRS, relators can claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit for people who died in 2020 or later. The IRS also says there is no penalty for claiming a refund on a late-filed tax return. The IRS recommends choosing direct deposit to receive your payment quickly.

Eligible taxpayers can access free tax preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling Program for Seniors. The free assistance program is part of the IRS’s ongoing effort to encourage people who don’t normally need to file taxes to “explore their potential tax benefits.”

If you’re not sure if you received your COVID stimulus check, you can easily check online by creating an account with the IRS. Qualifying individuals can receive up to $1,200, and married couples filing jointly can receive up to $2,400.