You may not believe this, but there are still three million people who haven’t applied for their federal stimulus check. These “pending” people were entitled to their direct payment during the most complex phase of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The payment corresponds to 2021, but there is still time to request a refund. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, an organization overseen by the IRS, revealed an interesting economic fact. It turns out that those eligible would receive a portion of the $4.7 billion in unclaimed Recovery Refund Credits.
An official report released in August last year revealed how many people are still eligible to apply for their direct payment. Likewise, it was confirmed that the United States has distributed more than $930 billion in stimulus checks. This was possible thanks to the American Rescue Plan. The aim was to alleviate the financial situation of those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Three direct federal payments
At that time, the federal government sent three direct payments due to the pandemic the country was suffering from. The first amount was $1,200.00 and the second was $600.00. In both cases, they were issued with the approval of then-President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, the third check for $1,400.00 was signed by current President Joe Biden.
It is known that the three million outstanding individuals have filed their 2021 tax returns. However, none of them have claimed the refund credit.
The first thing you need to do is submit your main form and complete the refund credit section. People have exactly three years to demand payment or they will lose their money permanently. The deadline to claim the 2021 credit is the 2024 tax year, which is filed in the spring of 2025.