Can I still claim my expired Covid relief checks from 2020-2021?

You're definitely not out of luck! The IRS has a process for this exact situation. Those stimulus payments were actually advance payments of the Recovery Rebate Credit, so you have options: If the checks are less than a year old, you can contact your bank to see if they'll still accept them, though that's unlikely for COVID relief checks at this point. Your best option is to request replacement checks by calling the IRS directly at 800-919-9835 or submit Form 3911 (Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund) to request a payment trace and replacement. Be prepared with the exact check amounts and issue dates if possible. Alternatively, if you haven't claimed these payments on previous tax returns, you might be able to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your next return, though the window for claiming 2020-2021 stimulus funds is narrowing. You'd need to file an amended return for the appropriate tax year.

After spending HOURS trying to get through to the IRS about missing stimulus money, I finally found a better solution. I used https://taxr.ai to analyze my tax transcript and stimulus eligibility. I uploaded my expired check images and tax documents, and their system immediately identified that I could claim the funds through an amended return. They walked me through exactly which forms to file and what documentation to include. The system caught that my expired checks weren't recorded as "cashed" in the IRS system, which meant I was still eligible to recover the funds. Saved me from waiting weeks just to talk to someone at the IRS.

Just wanted to share an update - I was hesitant about using another service after dealing with so much IRS bureaucracy, but I tried https://taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and it was legitimately helpful. I uploaded pictures of my expired stimulus checks and my previous tax returns, and it immediately identified that I needed to file Form 1040-X for 2021 to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. The system even created a draft letter explaining my situation to include with my amended return. Got confirmation from the IRS last week that my amended return was accepted and they're processing my refund. Saved me from potentially losing over $4,200 in stimulus money I was entitled to!

I had the exact same problem but with just one check for myself. After trying to call the IRS for weeks with no luck (always "high call volume"), I used https://claimyr.com to get through to an actual person. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c They basically hold your place in the phone queue and call you when an agent is about to pick up. Got connected to someone in the IRS stimulus division within an hour, and they started the process to reissue my check. The agent told me expired stimulus checks can be reissued, but you have to specifically request a payment trace first to confirm the original check wasn't cashed.

I need to eat my words and follow up about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I figured I had nothing to lose and tried it. I was SHOCKED when I got a call back in about 45 minutes saying my IRS call was about to be connected. After talking to the agent, I found out I could still claim my expired stimulus checks through an amended return. The agent even gave me the exact lines on the tax form to complete and confirmed my eligibility based on my AGI for the relevant years. After 2+ years of thinking that money was just lost, I'm now expecting to receive about $2,800 in the next 6-8 weeks. Sometimes being proven wrong is actually great!

Not sure if this applies to your situation, but for the 3rd stimulus check (the American Rescue Plan one), you might still be able to claim it as the Recovery Rebate Credit by filing an amended 2021 return. I was in a similar situation where I never received one of my checks because I was traveling, and I was able to get it by filing Form 1040-X. You'll need to check box "A" for "Recovery Rebate Credit" on the form and then complete it according to the instructions. Just make sure you have the exact amounts of any stimulus payments you actually received, because claiming the wrong amount can delay processing.

Something similar happened to my brother. He had to fill out Form 3911 (Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund) and specifically request a "payment trace" on the original checks. This tells the IRS to verify the checks were never cashed, which then allows them to reissue payment. This worked for him even though the checks were over a year old. He got replacement checks about 6 weeks after submitting the form. Make sure you include all the details about the original checks (date, amount, etc) if you still have that info.

I work at a volunteer tax prep site, and we've dealt with this issue a lot. The solution depends on which stimulus payment we're talking about: 1st & 2nd payments (2020): You'd need to amend your 2020 return if you haven't already claimed them 3rd payment (2021): You'd need to amend your 2021 return The easiest approach now would be to file the amended returns using Form 1040-X and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for the payments you never cashed. Keep those expired checks though! The IRS might request documentation later. Also, there's a time limit to claim these credits - generally 3 years from the original filing deadline. So for 2020 returns (1st & 2nd stimulus), you have until April 15, 2024. For 2021 returns (3rd stimulus), you have until April 15, 2025.

I went through this exact situation last year! I had two expired stimulus checks from when I was deployed overseas. Here's what worked for me: First, try calling the IRS at 800-919-9835 and ask specifically for the "Economic Impact Payment" department. When you get through (which can take forever), tell them you have expired stimulus checks and need to request a payment trace. They'll ask for the check numbers, amounts, and issue dates if you have them. The agent will initiate a trace to confirm the checks were never cashed, then they can reissue new payments. This took about 8-10 weeks for me, but I did get replacement checks for the full amounts. One tip: if you decide to go the amended return route instead, make sure you're claiming the right tax year for each payment. The first two stimulus payments go on your 2020 return, and the third one goes on your 2021 return. You can't mix them up or it'll delay processing. Either way, definitely keep those expired checks as proof - the IRS may ask for copies during their review process. Good luck getting your money back!