In May 2024, the deadline set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for claiming COVID-era refunds was down to just a few days—Friday, May 17 of that year was the final day. This news came from a CT Insider report, reminding taxpayers that if they had not yet claimed the Tax Credits arising from the pandemic for 2020 or 2021, they needed to submit an Amended Tax Return or an original tax return by that date. For many Chinese Americans in the U.S., especially Chinese residents of Austin, this was once an opportunity not to be missed, because once the window closed, these refunds would be permanently forfeited.
Editor's Note (updated July 16, 2026): This article recounts a CT Insider report from May 2024, in which "this Friday" refers to May 17, 2024. The filing window for the 2020 tax year closed on May 17, 2024, and the window for the 2021 tax year has since closed as well, on April 15, 2025; neither can be claimed any longer. The text below retains the original report's framing, with revisions to present it in retrospective terms.
What Were COVID-Era Refunds?
COVID-era refunds refer to a number of one-time credit programs the IRS rolled out during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. The most common was the Recovery Rebate Credit—familiar to many as the "Stimulus Checks"—which allowed taxpayers who had not received their full stimulus payment to claim the credit that year to make up the difference. There were also expanded versions of the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, among others. Under U.S. tax law, taxpayers generally have three years to claim a refund, which is why the deadline for claiming 2020 refunds was May 17, 2024 (and April 15, 2025, for the 2021 tax year). Once these dates passed, the IRS no longer accepted related refund claims—both windows are now closed.
The Practical Impact on Chinese Tax Clients in Austin
For Chinese Americans living in Austin, this history is especially worth revisiting. Many Chinese Americans, due to language barriers, limited knowledge of tax matters, or being outside the U.S. at the time (for example, having returned to China for a period), may not have properly claimed these credits. Others assumed that because their income was low, they didn't need to file a return at all, and as a result missed out on their stimulus checks. In fact, even if you had no filing obligation (for example, your income was below the Standard Deduction), you still needed to file a tax return to receive the money, as long as you were eligible for a stimulus payment. Back then, many clients asked us: "Can I still claim my 2020 refund?" The answer depended on whether action was taken before May 17, 2024. Now that the window has closed, there are mainly two things you can do: verify whether you properly claimed these credits at the time (which you can check through your IRS Online Account history), and confirm that there are no similar oversights for years still within the three-year window. If you'd like to review the basics of tax filing, check out our Tax Insights column, which offers detailed explanations.
How to File Back Then, and What Forms Were Required (Retrospective)
Before the window closed, the main way to claim a COVID-era refund was to file an amended return (Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return). Those who had already filed an original return but had not claimed the credit needed to file Form 1040-X and indicate that they were claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit or other related credits; those who had never filed a return for that year needed to first submit an original return (Form 1040) and claim the credit on it. At the time, 2020 tax returns had to be filed on paper by mail (the e-filing system for that year had already been shut down), and the IRS went by the Postmark Date—as long as the envelope was postmarked before the deadline, it counted as timely. These procedural details no longer apply to the pandemic-era tax years, but Form 1040-X remains a valid tool for claiming refunds for other years still within the three-year window. If you're not familiar with the filing process, refer to our Chinese Tax Filing Guide, which lays out the necessary steps and key points for completing the forms in detail.
YZ CPA Note
Looking back today, YZ CPA recommends that Chinese American clients in Austin take away a few key points from this history. First, locate your 2020 and 2021 tax records (including W-2s, 1099s, bank interest statements, etc.) and verify whether you claimed all the pandemic-related credits you were eligible for at the time—if something was missed, it unfortunately can no longer be recovered, but checking can help you confirm where you stand. Second, the filing window for pandemic-year credits has passed, so please do not file Form 1040-X for the 2020 or 2021 tax year to try to claim these credits, and do not fall for promotions or links claiming you can "still claim your stimulus check"—these are most likely scams; however, if you have unclaimed refunds from more recent years still within the three-year window, an amended return remains applicable. Third, if you have foreign financial accounts with an aggregate value exceeding $10,000, your FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) filing obligation always applies, regardless of whether you're claiming a refund—be sure to file on time, or you could face penalties. Fourth, when facing time-sensitive tax rights in the future, don't guess on your own—consult a CPA familiar with both U.S. and Chinese tax matters as early as possible, to avoid missing out due to delays or filing errors.
In short, that Friday of May 17, 2024, was no ordinary deadline—it was the "final notice" for 2020 tax year refunds. The lesson it leaves us with is this: refund rights have time limits, so act promptly, but also act carefully—it's better to spend one more day making sure the forms are correct than to rush and make a mistake. For our Chinese American friends in Austin, if you're not sure whether your filings in recent years are complete, feel free to reach out to us anytime to check.
For professional tax assistance, please visit the YZ CPA Services page or contact us.