Missing Stimulus Payments

Translations
Para información en español, haga clic aquí
ለአማርኛ መረጃ እዚህ ይጫኑ

If you did not get all three rounds of stimulus payments, it’s not too late to find out why! Learn how to get your payments.

I didn't get my stimulus money! What can I do?

It depends on which payments are missing.

There were three rounds of payments:

First round: Up to $1,200 per adult + $500 for each child
Second round: Up to $600 per adult + $600 for each child
Third round: Up to $1,400 per adult + $1,400 for each dependent (child or adult)

The first two rounds were for 2020. The third round was for 2021. The IRS calls the stimulus payments “Recovery Rebate Credits” because they were actually advances of tax credits.

  • If you are missing a payment from the first two rounds, you can file a 2020 tax return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on Line 30 of IRS Form 1040. The deadline for filing a 2020 return for this or any purpose is May 17, 2024!

  • If you are missing a payment from the third round, you can file a 2021 tax return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on Line 30 of IRS Form 1040.

  • If you are missing a payment from the first two rounds and a payment from the third round, you will have to file both a 2020 and a 2021 return.

  • To claim the credit, you will need to know how much money you are missing. For more information, go to EIP Payments.

Need help filing a return?

You'll be filing a return for a prior year, either 2020 or 2021 or both, to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. During the current tax filing season (roughly February to April of 2024), DC Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites can help you file a return.

What if my stimulus money was issued, but was lost, stolen or destroyed?

You can start a payment trace by calling the IRS at 800-919-9835. Or mail or fax a completed Form 3911, Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund, to the IRS. For more information about payment tracing go to IRS Payment Trace.

Can I check the status of my payments?

You can check the status of any of your payments by going to (or creating) your IRS Online Account.

Questions? Call Legal Aid DC at (202) 628-1161.