What if I never received any stimulus checks because my taxes weren't done, but I qualified?

[jim643]

I never received ANY of my COVID stimulus checks.  Not even the first that was given to everyone. They denied it to me because my taxes were not filed the prior year. Now I OWE money for unemplyment. Shouldn't I be able to DEDUCT the amount I was entitled to? The first checks were NOT based on income, they were for everyone. And I also would have qualified for the others as well. I simply completed my taxes late.

[FangxiaL]

To claim the first two stimulus check, you need to file your 2020 tax return. You can claim your 3rd stimulus check on your 2021 tax return. 

You don't directly deduct the amount of stimulus check from the amount you owe on the unemployment income. You have to file your tax returns to figure out how much you owe /receive a refund after claiming the stimulus payments.