These updated FAQs were released to the public in Fact Sheet 2022-22 PDF, March 25, 2022. If you didn't receive, or get the full amount of, the third-round Economic Impact Payment, you may be eligible to claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit and must file a 2021 tax return – even if you don't usually file taxes – to claim it. Your 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit will reduce any tax you owe for 2021 or be included in your tax refund. If your income is $73,000 or less, you can file your federal tax return electronically for free through the IRS Free File Program. The fastest and most secure way to get your tax refund is to file electronically and have it direct deposited, contactless and free, into your financial account. You can have your refund direct deposited into your bank account, prepaid debit card, or mobile app, and will need to provide routing and account numbers. If you didn't get the full amounts of the first- and second-round Economic Impact Payments, you may be eligible to claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit and must file a 2020 tax return – even if you don't usually file taxes – to claim it. DO NOT include any information regarding the first- and second-round Economic Impact Payments or the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 return. Below are links to the frequently asked questions about the third-round Economic Impact Payment, separated by topic. Please do not call the IRS. Our phone assistors don't have information beyond what's available on IRS.gov. The Third-round Economic Impact Payment was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 as an advance payment of the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit. The IRS started sending the third-round Economic Impact Payments to eligible individuals in March 2021 and continued sending payments throughout the year as tax returns were processed. The IRS has issued all third-round Economic Impact Payments (including all plus-up payments). Families and individuals in the following circumstances, among others, may not have received the full amount of their third-round Economic Impact Payment because their circumstances in 2021 were different than they were in 2020. These families and individuals may be eligible to receive more money by claiming the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 income tax return: Parents of a child born in 2021 who claim the child as a dependent on their 2021 income tax return may be eligible to receive a 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit of up to $1,400 for this child. All eligible parents of qualifying children born or welcomed through adoption or foster care in 2021 are also encouraged to claim the child tax credit — worth up to $3,600 per child born in 2021 — on their 2021 income tax return. Families who added a dependent – such as a parent, a nephew or niece, or a grandchild – on their 2021 income tax return who was not listed as a dependent on their 2020 income tax return may be eligible to receive a 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit of up to $1,400 for this dependent. Single filers who had incomes above $80,000 in 2020 but less than this amount in 2021; married couples who filed a joint return and had incomes above $160,000 in 2020 but less than this amount in 2021; and head of household filers who had incomes above $120,000 in 2020 but less than this amount in 2021 may be eligible for a 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit of up to $1,400 per person. Single filers who had incomes between $75,000 and $80,000 in 2020 but had lower incomes in 2021; married couples who filed a joint return and had incomes between $150,000 and $160,000 in 2020 but had lower incomes in 2021; and head of household filers who had incomes between $112,500 and $120,000 in 2020 but had lower incomes in 2021 may be eligible for a 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit. Individuals must claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 income tax return in order to get this money; the IRS will not automatically calculate the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit. The IRS began accepting 2021 income tax returns on January 24. Most other eligible people already received the full amount of their credit in advance and don't need to include any information about this payment when they file their 2021 tax return. Topic A: General Information Topic B: Eligibility and Calculation of the Third Payment Topic C: Plus-Up Payments Topic D: EIP Cards Topic E: Requesting My Payment Topic F: Social Security, Railroad Retirement and Department of Veterans Affairs benefit recipients Topic G: Receiving My Payment Topic H: Reconciling on Your 2021 Tax Return Topic I: Returning the Third-round Economic Impact Payment Topic J: Payment Issued but Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Not Received
