To claim a stimulus check (Recovery Rebate Credit) in 2025, here are the key steps you need to follow:

• You must file your 2021 tax return, even if it is late, by the deadline of April 15, 2025.
• On your 2021 tax return (Form 1040), complete Line 30 to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.
• If you missed claiming the stimulus payment for 2021 or did not receive the full amount, filing this return and claiming the credit will prompt the IRS to issue the payment automatically.
• Eligibility for the 2021 stimulus was based on income (generally under $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for joint filers) and valid Social Security numbers.
• If you have dependents, you may be eligible for additional amounts per dependent.
• Filing can be done via IRS Free File, tax preparer, or paper mail.
• The IRS has identified about 1 million taxpayers eligible for these unclaimed stimulus payments and has been sending payments automatically from late 2024.

In brief, your critical action is to ensure your 2021 tax return is filed by April 15, 2025, with the Recovery Rebate Credit claimed on it. This is the mechanism to get any stimulus check related to 2021 payments that you may have missed.

Note that there are no new federal stimulus checks beyond these and the IRS is concluding this round of payments. Some states may still offer separate rebate programs, but federal stimulus checks for 2025 only apply to unclaimed past rounds.