Believe it or not, what seemed unlikely for many is about to happen. A million Americans are set to receive a $1,400 stimulus check from the IRS. Yep, you read that right. But why now? Well, it’s a special payment for those who, for whatever reason, didn’t claim this benefit when it was originally available.
The IRS—the tax office most people love to hate—dug into their records and found that about a million people were entitled to the Recovery Rebate Credit. Sounds fancy, right? But really, it’s just a refund for those pandemic-era stimulus payments that some folks missed out on. This money is for you if you’re eligible and didn’t get one.
What’s this stimulus check about, and why now?
Here’s the kicker: You don’t need to do a thing. No forms to fill out, no long phone calls. The IRS is handling it automatically. You’ll either get the money deposited into your bank account or receive a paper check in the mail. Oh, and they’ll also send you a letter to let you know it’s coming. Kind of like when you get a shipping notification for a package you forgot you ordered.
When’s the money coming?
The plan is for these payments to roll out in December, so you could have the cash in hand before the holidays—or at least by January 2025. It’s perfect timing if you’re thinking about gifts or trying to catch up on some bills. Either way, it’s a nice little boost.
How can you tell if you qualify?
These payments are aimed at people who filed their 2021 tax returns but left the Recovery Rebate Credit field blank—or maybe put down “0” by mistake. If you didn’t file your 2021 taxes at all, the IRS says there’s still time to fix that. Just file by April 15, 2025, and you might qualify too. It’s worth checking, right?
And don’t worry if you’ve changed bank accounts since filing your 2023 taxes. If the payment bounces back, the IRS will just send a check to the address they have on file. No extra effort is needed on your part.
How much money is being sent out?
We’re talking about $2.4 billion here, divided among one million people. According to IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, this effort is part of their push to make things easier for taxpayers. “We want to make sure this money gets to the people who need it without unnecessary hassle,” Werfel said. That means no complicated forms, no added stress—just automatic payments.
One last thing to keep in mind
If you believe you could be among the fortunate recipients, remain patient. The money will find its way to you. But if you didn’t file your 2021 taxes, now’s your chance to fix that. Avoid leaving money unclaimed by waiting too long.
For many, this payment could be the help they’ve been waiting for. Honestly, who wouldn’t appreciate an additional $1,400 to start the new year with a positive outlook?