Taxpayers across the United States who have yet to file their 2021 tax returns still have a golden opportunity to claim up to $1,400 in stimulus payments from the Covid-19 relief efforts, but time is running out. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has set April 15, 2025, as the final deadline for individuals to submit their 2021 returns and secure the Recovery Rebate Credit, a benefit tied to the third round of pandemic stimulus checks issued under the American Rescue Plan. Announced late in 2024, this initiative follows a $2.4 billion distribution effort that saw automatic payments sent to eligible taxpayers by January 2025. Now, the IRS is targeting those who missed earlier opportunities, including an estimated 1 million Americans with unclaimed 2021 refunds. In Ohio alone, nearly 40,000 residents could pocket a median refund of $762, alongside the potential $1,400 stimulus, depending on their tax situation. The clock is ticking, and acting before the cutoff could mean thousands of dollars for households still recovering from the economic fallout of the pandemic.
The stimulus payments, originally rolled out in 2021, aimed to provide direct financial relief during the height of the Covid-19 crisis, offering up to $1,400 per individual and dependent. While millions received their funds automatically via direct deposit or mail, many eligible taxpayers slipped through the cracks due to unfiled returns or errors in their submissions. To address this, the IRS launched a corrective campaign in December 2024, mailing checks or depositing funds for those who had filed 2021 returns but failed to claim the credit—often by leaving the Recovery Rebate Credit field blank or entering $0. For those who haven’t filed at all, the agency emphasizes that April 15, 2025, is the last chance to claim both the stimulus and any additional refunds, a move that could inject significant cash into local economies like Ohio’s, where the unclaimed funds could total millions.
Held in Cleveland, the effort underscores the IRS’s broader mission to ensure taxpayers receive every dollar they’re owed, especially in states hit hard by the pandemic’s economic ripple effects. The $2.4 billion already distributed reached bank accounts or mailboxes listed in 2023 returns, but the remaining unclaimed funds hinge on action from those yet to file. With over 1 million refunds nationwide still up for grabs, and Ohio’s share representing a substantial boost for its residents, the IRS is ramping up awareness to prevent these resources from expiring, offering a lifeline as living costs continue to climb.
Millions still eligible for unclaimed funds
Roughly 1 million Americans nationwide, including nearly 40,000 in Ohio, remain eligible for 2021 tax refunds and stimulus payments, provided they file their returns by the April 15 deadline. The IRS estimates these unclaimed refunds could total billions, with Ohio’s median refund pegged at $762 per household.
For those who qualify, the Recovery Rebate Credit adds up to $1,400 per person, potentially pushing the total benefit per family well beyond $2,000, depending on dependents and income levels from 2021.
Automatic payments already delivered
Late in 2024, the IRS identified taxpayers who filed 2021 returns but didn’t claim their stimulus due to errors, such as omitting the Recovery Rebate Credit. By January 2025, $2.4 billion in automatic payments had been disbursed to accounts or addresses on record from 2023 filings, offering relief without additional effort from recipients.
How the stimulus and refund system works
The IRS’s current push builds on the American Rescue Plan, signed into law by President Joe Biden in March 2021, which authorized the third round of stimulus payments amid the Covid-19 crisis. Eligible individuals could receive up to $1,400 each, with the same amount for dependents, based on income thresholds—$75,000 for singles and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly. Those who received partial or no payments at the time can now claim the difference via the Recovery Rebate Credit, but only by filing a 2021 return. The April 15, 2025, deadline stems from U.S. tax law, which allows a three-year window to claim refunds, making this the final call for that tax year.
In Ohio, the nearly 40,000 unclaimed refunds reflect a median of $762, though actual amounts vary widely based on withholdings, credits, and family size. Combined with the stimulus, a family of four could see over $5,000 if fully eligible—$1,400 per person plus additional refunds. The $2.4 billion distributed in late 2024 targeted those who filed but missed the credit, using updated banking or address details from 2023 returns. For non-filers, the process requires submitting a complete 2021 return, a step the IRS says is critical to unlocking these funds before they’re lost forever.
Beyond the stimulus, the 2021 tax year includes other potential benefits, like the expanded Child Tax Credit, which offered up to $3,600 per child under a temporary pandemic boost. Taxpayers who didn’t claim these credits at the time can still do so, amplifying the stakes of meeting the deadline. The IRS notes that low-income individuals, who may not typically file returns, are among those most likely to miss out, despite often qualifying for the full $1,400 stimulus.
Key dates to secure your payment
Taxpayers must act swiftly to meet the IRS deadline. Here’s the timeline to follow:
- By April 15, 2025: File your 2021 tax return, including the Recovery Rebate Credit claim.
- Post-deadline: Unclaimed funds expire, reverting to the U.S. Treasury with no further recourse.
- Processing period: Payments may take weeks or months after filing, depending on IRS backlog.
Missing this cutoff means forfeiting both the stimulus and any 2021 refunds permanently.
Economic boost for states like Ohio
The unclaimed funds could deliver a significant jolt to local economies, particularly in states like Ohio where nearly 40,000 residents stand to benefit. With a median refund of $762 and the potential $1,400 stimulus per person, the total payout for Ohio alone could reach tens of millions of dollars, fueling spending at small businesses, grocery stores, and service providers still rebounding from pandemic disruptions.
Nationally, the 1 million unclaimed refunds represent a massive pool of untapped resources, a legacy of the Covid-19 relief efforts that saw three rounds of stimulus payments between 2020 and 2021. The third round, tied to 2021 returns, was the largest single payout at $1,400 per individual, dwarfing earlier checks of $1,200 and $600. For those who missed it, the Recovery Rebate Credit serves as a backstop, but only if claimed by April 15. The IRS’s automatic $2.4 billion distribution in January 2025 showed the scale of missed opportunities, prompting this final push to reach non-filers.
In Cleveland and other Ohio cities, the funds could help offset rising costs for rent, utilities, and fuel, which have strained household budgets since 2021. The IRS estimates that many eligible taxpayers are low- or moderate-income earners who didn’t file due to minimal tax obligations, unaware of the credits awaiting them. This untapped cash could stabilize families and bolster community resilience as economic recovery continues.
Steps to claim your money now
Securing the stimulus and refunds requires a few straightforward actions. Taxpayers need to gather 2021 income documents—like W-2s or 1099s—file a return, and explicitly request the Recovery Rebate Credit. The IRS offers free online tools to simplify the process, especially for those below the filing threshold who don’t typically submit returns.
Eligibility hinges on 2021 income: singles earning under $75,000 or couples under $150,000 generally qualify for the full $1,400, with partial amounts for higher earners up to $80,000 and $160,000, respectively. Updates to bank accounts or addresses since 2021 should be reflected in the filing to ensure payments arrive promptly.
Final warning from the IRS
With April 15, 2025, looming, the IRS is sounding the alarm for the 1 million-plus taxpayers with unclaimed 2021 funds. In Ohio, the nearly 40,000 eligible residents face a median refund of $762, but the addition of up to $1,400 per person raises the stakes considerably. Once the deadline passes, U.S. tax law closes the door on these claims, redirecting unclaimed dollars to federal coffers.
The $2.4 billion already paid out in early 2025 reached those who corrected past filings, but non-filers remain the missing piece. Campaigns in states like Ohio aim to bridge this gap, targeting communities where awareness or access to tax services may lag. For a family of three, the combined stimulus and refund could exceed $4,000—a sum too substantial to let slip away.
Lasting impact of Covid-19 relief
The 2021 stimulus, part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, marked a historic effort to buoy the U.S. economy during the pandemic’s peak. Building on earlier payments, it delivered $1,400 to over 85% of American adults and children, totaling hundreds of billions in direct aid. Ohio’s 40,000 unclaimed refunds and stimulus checks are a final chapter in that story, a chance to complete the relief promised years ago.
