• Services
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • FAQs
  • About
  • Services
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • FAQs
  • About
Contact us

If a US Citizen did NOT receive their COVID stimulus checks, can they still get them?

  • October 27, 2024
  • Coach JP Money
Turn your missed COVID STIMULUS checks into a positive tax credit towards taxes owed

Recently a good friend let me know that they did NOT receive their COVID Stimulus Checks back in 2020 and 2021.

Can they still get them?  Or maybe get a credit on their future taxes?

I did the research and here’s what can be done.

The short answer is YES!  Yes, my friend may still be able to claim the stimulus payments they missed by filing for the Recovery Rebate Credit on their federal tax return.

Here’s how it works and what they can do:

1. What is the Recovery Rebate Credit?

  • The Recovery Rebate Credit is a tax credit that allows eligible individuals who didn’t receive their full stimulus payments (Economic Impact Payments) to claim the amounts as part of their tax refund or to reduce their tax liability.

2. Who is Eligible?

  • U.S. citizens or resident aliens who were not claimed as dependents on someone else’s tax return.
  • Individuals who meet the income eligibility requirements for the stimulus payments but never received the 2nd or 3rd checks.

3. How to Claim the Credit

  • File a 1040 or 1040-SR tax return, even if you’re not normally required to file taxes.
  • On the return, complete the Recovery Rebate Credit Worksheet to calculate the amount owed.
  • If you didn’t file taxes for the year when the stimulus payments were issued (2020 for the 2nd check, 2021 for the 3rd check), you will need to file or amend their return for those years.

4. Effect on Back Taxes

  • If you claim the credit and it results in a refund, the IRS may apply that refund to any outstanding tax debt. While it won’t eliminate the debt entirely, it could reduce what is  owed.
  • If the credit exceeds the amount, you could receive the difference as a refund.

5. Steps To Take

  • Check IRS Payment History: Use the IRS’s “Get My Payment” tool or their online account to confirm whether the IRS has a record of issuing the 2nd and 3rd checks.
  • File or Amend Past Returns: If you didn’t file a 2020 or 2021 return, or if there were errors in their original filing, you will need to file or amend these returns to claim the credit.
  • Seek a Payment Plan: If they can’t pay the full amount of tax you owe, contact the IRS to set up a payment plan, which could prevent additional penalties and interest.  (See Offer In Compromise)

6. Consult a Tax Professional

  • Given the back taxes and the missing stimulus payments, it’s wise to work with a tax professional or a free tax assistance service (like Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA) to ensure they correctly claim the Recovery Rebate Credit and resolve their tax debt.

By following these steps, you can potentially use the missed stimulus payments to offset your tax liability and ease your financial burden.

Coach JP Money

Charles Bivona Jr., aka Coach JP Money, is a business strategist, financial coach, and founder of CoachJPmoney.com. A lifelong entrepreneur, he launched his first real estate deal at 17 and went debt-free by 1998. Since then, he has built national media brands, advised small businesses, and helped clients grow online using smart strategy, digital tools, and creative grit.

An expat living in Baja, Mexico, Charles also writes and produces music as Johnny Punish and lives off-grid at Hacienda Eco-Domes, a sustainable retreat he built with his wife. Through providing small business services, coaching, writing, and podcasting, he’s on a mission to help others win their future—on their terms.

Read his full bio at PunishStudios.com >>>

www.coachjpmoney.com
Post Views: 8

Share:

More Posts

Top 10 Economies by 2050 and What It Means for Your Business and Investments

Personal Responsibility

Personal Responsibility: Reject US Blame Game Culture, Get Back To Winning

Global-Pivot Towards China

The Global-Pivot: Why I’m Moving My Focus Away from the USA

Trump Thinks He’s on a Jet Ski, But the U.S. Economy is an Aircraft Carrier—When is the Right Time to Re-Enter the Stock Market?

The Best Affordable EVs in the USA vs. Mexico: A Price & Range Comparison

How Not to Win Friends and Influence People: The Failure of Trump’s Public Negotiation Style

The Art of No Deal: Why You Can’t Negotiate with Dishonest Power Players

Having Lots of Money DOES NOT Equal Leadership: It Just Means You Have Lots of Money

A Big Think Transformative Vision Much Bigger and Bolder Than Trump’s GAZA Plan

Trump’s Gaza Plan or a Middle East Union: Which Vision Wins the Future?

PrevPreviousSWIPE AND INVEST: How Fractional Ownership Makes U.S. Real Estate Accessible for Expat Investors
NextAs a New Expat, Should I Rent or Buy Property?Next
Get In Touch
  • Email: media@coachjpmoney.com
Social Media
Facebook Twitter Youtube
  • Services
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • FAQs
  • About
  • Services
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • FAQs
  • About

©2025 Success Spear LLC, All Rights Reserved