Online rumors suggesting that new stimulus checks are coming to taxpayers this summer are false, the Internal Revenue Service confirmed Friday. Despite social media claims, no legislation has been passed to authorize additional payments.
The false reports claimed the IRS and Treasury Department would distribute $1,390 checks to low- and middle-income Americans by the end of August. In reality, stimulus payments—also called economic impact payments—require congressional approval before they can be issued. The IRS clarified that no such payments are planned in the coming weeks.
Past stimulus checks were distributed under specific legislation, including the CARES Act, the COVID-related Tax Relief Act, and the American Rescue Plan during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the Economic Stimulus Act following the 2008 financial crisis. Any new payments would need similar congressional action.
The misinformation may be linked to legislation proposed last month by Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri. His American Worker Rebate Act would provide tax rebates to qualified Americans using revenue generated from tariffs imposed by former President Trump. The bill, which has not advanced in either chamber of Congress, proposes payments of at least \$600 per individual, with additional funds for eligible children. Rebate amounts would decrease for taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes above $75,000 for individuals.
Some confusion may also stem from the IRS’s early-2025 distribution of \$2.4 billion in Recovery Rebate Credits for individuals who had not claimed stimulus payments in 2021. The maximum credit in that program was \$1,400 per individual. Taxpayers had to file their 2021 returns by April 15, 2025, to be eligible, and no new credits are currently available.
IRS officials urge Americans to ignore online rumors about automatic checks or rebate programs unless confirmed by official federal announcements. They emphasized that any new stimulus measures must be passed by Congress and distributed through the Treasury Department.
Source: IRS