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Amid the pandemic, $390 billion in direct payments went out to millions of Americans as part of the relief efforts. First, in April of 2020, eligible adults were sent $1,200 stimulus checks, then another $600 in December of 2020, and finally, $1,400 in March of 2021. It turns out though that $2.4 billion is leftover after all those payments, so the IRS is sending out more $1,400 checks - one million of them.
The special payments, which are going out in the next couple of weeks, will be sent to people who missed one of the original stimulus checks or didn't get the full amount and didn't claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. IRS Commissioner Canny Werfel explained in a statement, "Looking at our internal data, we realized that one million taxpayers overlooked claiming this complex credit when they were actually eligible."
The best part is that those who should be getting the check don't have to do anything to receive it. Instead, it will be directly deposited to the bank account they listed on their 2023 tax return, or it will just be sent as a check in the mail.
If you didn't file a 2021 tax return, you could still be eligible, but you'll need to file a tax return by April 15 and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, even if your income was minimal or non-existent. Payments will be $1,400 or less, depending on what is owed. For those who are getting a check, they will also receive a letter from the IRS notifying them about the impending payment.