I did not receive the $600 stimulus check for 2021, and now the IRS says claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit was an error, and I now owe $$.

[DoninGA]

The 3rd stimulus payment in 2021 was $1,400.

If your refund is short $1,400 then that is because you said you did not receive the 3rd stimulus payment and the IRS has records that show you were sent the 3rd stimulus payment so they removed the $1,400 Recovery Rebate Credit that was entered on Form 1040 Line 30.

Go to this IRS website for your tax account to see if the 3rd stimulus payment is entered - https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account
If you are Married Filing Jointly also check your spouse's tax account.

If you checked your bank account in the March - May 2021 timeframe and there is not a $1,400 EIP3 payment from the IRS then go to this IRS website for how to start a trace on the payment - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/questions-and-answers-about-the-third-economic-impact-payment-topic-j-p...

[VolvoGirl]

$600 was for the second Stimulus check.    You have to claim it on your 2020 return, not 2021.  Only the 3rd Stimulus goes on your 2021 return.  It was for $1400 per person.  Did you get that one?

There have been 3 Stimulus Payments so far……
EIP1 The first Stimulus payment was 1,200 for each spouse and 500 for each dependent under 17. Came out in spring of 2020.

EIP2 The second Stimulus was 600 per person and dependents under 17. The 2nd stimulus checks started going out at the very end of December 2020 and continued into January/Feb 2021.
The first 2 Stimulus payments went on your 2020 return even if you got the second one in Jan/Feb 2021.

EIP3 The 3rd Stimulus payment started going out in March 2021 and is for 1,400 for each person listed on your tax return, no age limit. The IRS used your 2020 (or 2019) return to send the checks out fast. If your 2021 return changes and you qualify for more you can claim the extra as the Recovery Rebate Credit on 1040 line 30. But line 30 is only if you didn't get the full amount or qualify for more. Not the amount you already got. The IRS also sent out letter 6475 to tell you how much they sent you . If you are married then each spouse should get a letter for half.

How much is on your 1040 line 30?   A common reason this year is if you tried to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit (for the 3rd Stimulus 1,400 per person) when the IRS already sent it to you. Line 30 is only if you didn't get the full amount or qualify for more. Not the amount you already got.

They sent the 3rd Stimulus payment (1400 per person) starting in March 2021. Double check your bank statements and check your IRS account (both accounts if married) to see what they sent you.
https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account

If you didn't get the 3rd Stimulus check but the IRS shows they sent it to you then request a trace for a missing third Stimulus payment
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/questions-and-answers-about-the-third-economic-impact-payment-topic-j-p...

[xmasbaby0]

The $600 stimulus was the second EIP payment and was based on your 2020 income.   If you did not receive it you could have used the recovery rebate credit on a 2020 tax return to get it.   There were two stimulus checks for tax year 2020---the first one was $1200 for adults and $500 for qualified dependent children up to age 17l the 2nd stimulus was sent in late 2020 or early in 2021 (but was based on 2020 income) and it was $600 for adults and $600 for qualified dependent children up to age 17.  Those two could be claimed as recovery rebate credit on a 2020 return if you did not receive them.

The third stimulus was for $1400 for adults and any dependent--no age limit--and was based on your 2021 income.   If you did not receive the third EIP payment you could claim it as a recovery rebate credit on a 2021 tax return.

LOTS of people have made mistakes this year with the recovery rebate credit by "forgetting" that they received the $1400 per person stimulus checks last year.  They answered no to the questions for the  recovery recovery rebate credit and put the $1400 per person on line 30 of their returns.  But you cannot get it twice, so the IRS removes it when it is there by mistake.  The IRS sent letter 6475 showing that you received the 3rd stimulus check. 

It is very important that if you filed a joint return—-the IRS sent letter 6475 to EACH spouse.  You had to enter the total amount received.   Many people misunderstood and entered only the amount from one of the letters.

Try checking your online account with the IRS (and if you filed a joint return—check for BOTH of you)

https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account

Does the IRS show that you received a $1400 per person stimulus or EIP check in 2021?   Did you receive it?   When you were asked on your tax return did you say no?   Was there $1400 per person on line 30 of your tax return?

If the IRS says you got $1400  per person last year but you did not receive it you can have it traced.

LOST THIRD STIMULUS CHECK

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/questions-and-answers-about-the-third-round-economic-impact-payment-top...

If you need to trace a payment that the IRS says has been issued to you, mail or fax a completed IRS Form 3911, Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund.