$1,390 Stimulus Surprise: IRS Giving You One Last Chance to Claim It!

If you never received that final round of stimulus payments during the pandemic—or think you got less than you were supposed to—there’s good news. The IRS is giving people one last chance to claim what’s called the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit. And yes, it could still mean up to $1,400 per person for many Americans.

You might have seen some headlines floating around talking about a $1,390 stimulus payment in 2025. It’s really just another way of referring to that third stimulus payment from 2021—some people see it slightly less due to tax offsets or rounding.

But if you’re eligible and haven’t claimed it yet, this is your final window to get the money.

What Is This $1,390 (or $1,400) Stimulus Payment?

Back in 2021, the government issued the third round of COVID stimulus payments—$1,400 for each qualifying person. Most people got it automatically. But for a variety of reasons—maybe you didn’t file taxes that year, maybe you moved, maybe your income changed—a lot of folks were left out.

That’s where the Recovery Rebate Credit comes in. You can still claim the stimulus by filing (or amending) your 2021 tax return. But there’s a deadline: April 15, 2025. After that, you’re out of luck.

Who Can Still Get the Money?

Here’s the short version of who qualifies:

• You didn’t get the full third stimulus payment back in 2021

• You file a 2021 tax return (or are willing to file it now)

• Your income was within the IRS limits that year:

  • $75,000 or less for single filers

  • $112,500 or less for heads of household

  • $150,000 or less for married couples filing jointly

• You had a valid Social Security number

• You weren’t claimed as someone else’s dependent

This could apply to new parents in 2021, students who started earning that year, or folks who were struggling financially and didn’t realize they missed out.

How Much Money Are We Talking?

Here’s what’s on the table:

• Up to $1,400 per eligible adult

• $1,400 for each qualifying dependent

So if you’re a married couple with two kids and you never received the 2021 stimulus, you could still get up to $5,600. Not exactly pocket change.

How Do You Claim It?

It’s actually pretty simple:

• If you never filed a 2021 tax return, go ahead and do that now.

• If you already filed, but didn’t get the credit, you’ll likely need to file an amended return using Form 1040-X.

You don’t need to apply for anything special. Just make sure your return is complete and filed by the deadline. After April 15, 2025, the IRS won’t accept late claims for this credit.

If you’re unsure whether you got the payment, check your IRS online account. It will show exactly how much you were paid (if anything) for that stimulus round.

When Will You Get Paid?

The IRS began issuing these payments between late December 2024 and January 2025 for folks who filed by then. If you file now, the timeline depends on processing speed—but many people are still seeing direct deposit refunds or checks mailed out in just a few weeks.

Direct deposit is faster. If your 2021 return doesn’t include bank info, they’ll mail you a paper check instead.

Watch Out for Scams

This is the kind of situation that scammers love to take advantage of. Keep your guard up:

• The IRS will not text or call you asking for your bank info

• There is no application fee or sign-up website to claim the money

• The only way to get this refund is by filing your 2021 return

If someone claims they can get you your “2025 stimulus” for a fee or asks for personal details out of the blue—delete it. It’s a scam.

This is one of those rare times where the IRS is literally giving people a second chance to get thousands of dollars—money that was originally meant to help with pandemic recovery.

If you qualify, don’t ignore it. Whether it’s $1,400, $2,800, or even more with dependents—it’s your money. All you need to do is make sure your 2021 return is filed or corrected.

And if you’re confused or nervous about doing it on your own, that’s okay too. Tax preparers can help, and there are free filing resources available.