Recovery Rebate Credit - What is it? If you did not receive the 1st and 2nd stimulus checks, you can actually still receive the payment by claiming the recovery rebate credit (if eligible). The stimulus check was determined by your filing status in 2018 and 2019. The group that was significantly impacted were college students as many of their parents claimed them as a dependent in 2018-2019. The IRS added the new recovery rebate credit in the Form 1040 to ensure that those who did not receive their full economic impact aid would still get their payment. If you did the tecice the first or 2nd stimulus payment, you can now claim that on your tax return to increase your refund or reduce the amount you owe You can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit if the following applies to you: U.S Citizen or U.S. resident alien in 2020 Will NOT be claimed as a dependent Have a social security number You were not issued an Economic Impact Payment If your 1st economic payment ...