No new federal stimulus payments planned for 2025, IRS warns of ongoing scams
TOI World Desk | Sep 24, 2025, 01:32 IST
No new federal stimulus payments planned for 2025, IRS warns of ongoing scams
( Image credit : Pexels )
As 2025 nears its end, no official IRS or Congressional announcements confirm new federal stimulus or rebate payments. Past COVID-era checks have concluded, and proposed programs remain unrealized. Meanwhile, state-level relief persists. The IRS warns of scams exploiting confusion, urging taxpayers to verify claims through official channels and avoid sharing personal information.
As 2025 edges towards its fourth quarter, many Americans are considering whether they will be getting another IRS stimulus payment or federal rebates. Social media and internet forums are filled with speculation, but so far, there has been no announcement from the IRS or Congress about making any payments in the future. This uncertainty has led to confusion, and sometimes even scams. The IRS has cautioned, particularly in states like Rhode Island, about texts being sent as scams that indicate new stimulus payments or refunds are arriving. The scams will then ask for personal or financial data under the guise of payment issuance.
To understand what's going on today, it's worthwhile to look back at stimulus programs in the past. During the COVID-19 pandemic, three Economic Impact Payments were authorized by the U.S. government. The first was in March 2020, with up to $1,200 per adult and up to $500 per child under 17. The second was in December 2020, with up to $600 per person, and the third in March 2021, with $1,400 per person, including dependents. The April 15, 2025 deadline was the time to receive the third and final check. Anyone who did not do so, including tax filers who filed for an extension, is no longer eligible to receive such payments. The unpaid amounts have already been added to the U.S. Treasury. The IRS advises that taxpayers should call the agency or a good tax professional directly only if they believe they did qualify but did not make it on time.
There are no official stimulus programs planned in 2025, although new proposals have been placed on the table. President Donald Trump weighed at a Miami February summit the potential "tariff rebate check" that would return some of the government's tariff receipts to taxpayers. The proposal has yet to be drafted as formal legislation, however, and no more recent updates have been provided. Trump also spoke of a theoretical $5,000 "DOGE dividend," a one-time payout supposedly garnered from a newly imagined Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and apparently inspired by Elon Musk. The idea remains vague and free-floating, with no subsequent official support or follow-up.
In the absence of federal action, there has been some action at the state level to offer limited economic relief. New York, for instance, paid people who made up to $75,000 a one-time payment of $200 and married couples who earned up to $150,000 a one-time payment of $400. Other states, such as Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Colorado, also sent inflation relief checks or property tax rebates. The programs are operated at the state level and are not part of federal stimulus programs. The amount and qualifications differ by location and individual situation.
There have been no new federal rebate programs or stimulus payments approved for 2025 in total. Despite political figures presenting numerous proposals, none have gotten past the stage of being proposed. Meanwhile, disinformation online propagates with intent, sometimes ill. The IRS urges citizens to be cautious, verify through official means, and not pass along personal information to strangers. Until Congress or the IRS makes an official announcement, any news about pending payments should be taken with a grain of salt.
To understand what's going on today, it's worthwhile to look back at stimulus programs in the past. During the COVID-19 pandemic, three Economic Impact Payments were authorized by the U.S. government. The first was in March 2020, with up to $1,200 per adult and up to $500 per child under 17. The second was in December 2020, with up to $600 per person, and the third in March 2021, with $1,400 per person, including dependents. The April 15, 2025 deadline was the time to receive the third and final check. Anyone who did not do so, including tax filers who filed for an extension, is no longer eligible to receive such payments. The unpaid amounts have already been added to the U.S. Treasury. The IRS advises that taxpayers should call the agency or a good tax professional directly only if they believe they did qualify but did not make it on time.
There are no official stimulus programs planned in 2025, although new proposals have been placed on the table. President Donald Trump weighed at a Miami February summit the potential "tariff rebate check" that would return some of the government's tariff receipts to taxpayers. The proposal has yet to be drafted as formal legislation, however, and no more recent updates have been provided. Trump also spoke of a theoretical $5,000 "DOGE dividend," a one-time payout supposedly garnered from a newly imagined Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and apparently inspired by Elon Musk. The idea remains vague and free-floating, with no subsequent official support or follow-up.
In the absence of federal action, there has been some action at the state level to offer limited economic relief. New York, for instance, paid people who made up to $75,000 a one-time payment of $200 and married couples who earned up to $150,000 a one-time payment of $400. Other states, such as Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Colorado, also sent inflation relief checks or property tax rebates. The programs are operated at the state level and are not part of federal stimulus programs. The amount and qualifications differ by location and individual situation.
There have been no new federal rebate programs or stimulus payments approved for 2025 in total. Despite political figures presenting numerous proposals, none have gotten past the stage of being proposed. Meanwhile, disinformation online propagates with intent, sometimes ill. The IRS urges citizens to be cautious, verify through official means, and not pass along personal information to strangers. Until Congress or the IRS makes an official announcement, any news about pending payments should be taken with a grain of salt.