Stimulus payments you did not receive are still claimable, but the method depends on which payment and when you last filed taxes

If you did not receive a stimulus payment during the pandemic, you can still claim it — but not by contacting the IRS directly. The payments were distributed in three rounds: the Economic Impact Payments of 2020, 2021, and 2022. If you missed one or more, you claim them on your tax return for the year the payment was issued, not the year you are filing now. This means if you did not get the 2020 payment, you would claim it on your 2020 tax return, even if you are filing that return years late.

The IRS does not reissue stimulus payments or send them out after the fact. Your only path is to file a tax return for the year you missed the payment and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on that return. If you have not filed taxes in several years, this process takes longer, but it is straightforward once you understand the order of steps.

Key Takeaways

  • Stimulus payments from 2020, 2021, and 2022 are claimed on tax returns for those specific years, not on your current return, using the Recovery Rebate Credit.
  • You must file a tax return for each year you missed a payment, even if you normally do not file because your income was too low.
  • The IRS will not send you a payment directly; the credit reduces what you owe or increases your refund when you file.
  • If you did not receive a payment and did not file a return that year, you have no time limit to file and claim it retroactively.
  • You can file past-year returns yourself using free tax software or with help from a volunteer tax preparer in your area.

Which stimulus payments exist and which years they cover

Three rounds of stimulus payments were issued between March 2020 and January 2022. The first payment, issued in 2020, was up to $1,200 per adult and $500 per child. The second, issued in 2021, was up to $600 per adult and $600 per child. The third, issued in 2022, was up to $1,400 per adult and $1,400 per child. The exact amount you were supposed to receive depended on your income in the year before the payment was issued.

If you did not receive any of these payments, or received less than you were may have access to to, you can claim the difference. To know what you should have received, you need to know your income for the year before each payment. For the 2020 payment, the IRS used your 2019 tax return (or 2018 if you had not filed 2019). For the 2021 payment, they used your 2020 return. For the 2022 payment, they used your 2021 return. If you did not file a return for any of those years, the IRS had no record of your income and could not send you a payment.

How to file a return for a year you missed and claim the credit

Start by gathering documents for the year you want to file. You will need a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for yourself and any dependents, proof of income (W-2 forms from employers, 1099 forms for self-employment or contract work, or bank statements showing deposits), and proof of any deductions you are claiming. If you do not have these documents, you can request them from your employer or the IRS.

Next, choose how to file. The IRS offers free tax software through its Free File program if your income was below a certain threshold in the year you are filing for. You can find the list of participating software companies on IRS.gov. If you prefer help from a person, the Volunteer Income Tax information (VITA) program offers free tax preparation at libraries, community centers, and nonprofits in most areas. Call 211 or search for VITA sites near you on the IRS website.

When you file, you will enter information about the stimulus payments you did not receive. The tax software or your preparer will calculate the Recovery Rebate Credit automatically. If the credit is larger than the tax you owe, you will receive the difference as a refund. File the return for the specific year you missed the payment — do not try to claim it on your current return.

What happens if you filed a return but did not receive the payment

If you filed a tax return for 2020, 2021, or 2022 but never received the stimulus payment you were may have access to to, the process is different. You still claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, but you file an amended return using Form 1040-X for the year you missed the payment. You can file an amended return up to three years after the original return was due.

To file an amended return, you will need a copy of your original return from that year. You can get one from the IRS by calling 1-800-829-1040 or by creating an account on IRS.gov and viewing your transcript. Once you have it, you can use free tax software to prepare the amended return, or work with a VITA volunteer. The amended return will show the Recovery Rebate Credit you did not claim the first time, and the IRS will send you the difference as a refund.

Checking whether you actually received a payment

Before you file, confirm whether you received a payment and how much. The IRS sent most payments by direct deposit to the bank account on file with your tax return, or by check or debit card if you did not have direct deposit set up. If you received a check, it may have arrived years ago and been deposited without you remembering it. If you received a debit card, it may have been used and the balance spent.

Check your bank statements for deposits from the U.S. Treasury or "IRS TREAS 310" for the months when payments were issued: April to June 2020 for the first payment, January to March 2021 for the second, and March to May 2022 for the third. If you received a check, look for deposits matching the payment amounts ($1,200, $600, or $1,400 per person). If you cannot find evidence of a deposit, you likely did not receive the payment and should file to claim it.

What to do if you moved or changed banks

If you moved between when you filed your tax return and when the payment was issued, the IRS may have sent a check to your old address. Checks issued by the IRS do not expire, so if you find one years later, you can still deposit it. Check with your old address's current residents or the post office to see if a check was returned.

If you changed banks and the IRS tried to deposit the payment to a closed account, the bank returned it to the IRS. The IRS then issued a check to your last known address. Again, this check does not expire. If you cannot locate it, filing a return to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit is your path forward. The credit will be paid as a refund, which you can receive by direct deposit to your current bank account.

How long it takes and what to expect after you file

If you file a return for a past year, the IRS typically processes it within 21 days if you file electronically and claim the refund by direct deposit. If you file by mail or request a check, it takes longer — usually four to six weeks. If the IRS needs to verify information on your return, processing can take several months.

Once your return is processed and approved, the IRS will send your refund, which includes the Recovery Rebate Credit. You can track the status of your refund on IRS.gov using the "Where's My Refund?" tool. You will need your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim a stimulus payment I received if I think the amount was wrong?

Yes. If you received a payment but believe it was less than you were may have access to to, file a return for that year and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for the difference. The IRS will calculate what you should have received based on your income and dependents, and send you the shortfall as a refund.

What if I do not have a Social Security number or ITIN?

You cannot claim a stimulus payment without a Social Security number or ITIN. If you are a noncitizen, you may be able to obtain an ITIN from the IRS. Contact a VITA volunteer or immigration attorney to learn whether you are may be able to access and how the process works.

Do I have to file a return if my income was too low to owe taxes?

Yes, if you did not receive a stimulus payment. Even if your income was below the threshold that normally requires filing, you can file a return to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit and receive the payment as a refund. The credit is available to anyone who did not receive the payment they were may have access to to.

Can I claim stimulus payments for my children if I did not claim them as dependents?

Only if you were may have access to to claim them as dependents in that year. The stimulus payment was tied to your dependent status on your tax return. If you did not claim a child as a dependent, you cannot claim a stimulus payment for them retroactively, even if you believe you should have claimed them.

What if I owe back taxes or child support?

The IRS can offset your stimulus refund to pay back taxes or child support you owe. If you have outstanding debts, the refund may be reduced or eliminated. Contact the IRS or your state tax authority before filing to understand what you owe and how it might affect your refund.