Still waiting for a fourth stimulus cheque in July or August? Here's why that $2,000 isn't coming

Economic Times

2 days ago

Stimulus Checks: Talk of a new $2,000 stimulus cheque landing in July or August 2025 has gone viral. But as of now, neither the IRS nor the US Congress has proposed or approved such a payment. The rumour, fuelled by social media and unverified reports, has no official backing. The deadline to claim the third and final stimulus passed in April 2025. While some US states continue to issue small inflation relief cheques, there is no federal fourth stimulus in the pipeline.
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IRS and Treasury: No fourth cheque in the works
Trump's DOGE plan still just a proposal
Cost of living rising, relief still sparse
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Stimulus payment scams and fake forms on the rise
A quick look at past stimulus payments
The first cheque, issued in March-April 2020, provided up to $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for married couples, plus $500 per qualifying child under 17
The second cheque, sent by January 2021, was up to $600 per person and $600 per dependent
The third cheque, delivered between March and December 2021, gave $1,400 per eligible individual, and $1,400 per dependent
How to track refunds or missing stimulus payments
Over the past week, rumours have surged online about a fourth stimulus cheque worth $2,000 supposedly coming in July or August 2025. These claims, heavily circulated on social media and through loosely sourced articles, suggest that new federal relief is on the way for struggling Americans.But there is no official confirmation. Not from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), not from the US Congress, and not from the Treasury Department.This wave of misinformation follows a 19 July article by Rick Adams, which implied that lawmakers were considering new payments due to mounting public pressure. The article stated that single filers earning less than $75,000, and married couples earning under $150,000, would qualify. It also mentioned additional amounts for dependents, with direct deposits possibly starting late 2025 or early 2026 if approved.But that 'if' remains very much hypothetical.No draft legislation, budget allocation or public statement supports these claims. The most recent IRS update, IR-2025-75 issued on 15 July, focused on tax security and extensions. It made no mention of new stimulus efforts.There's been no movement from the IRS or the Treasury to suggest that another stimulus is being prepared.The last round of Economic Impact Payments was part of the American Rescue Plan in 2021. That provided up to $1,400 per eligible individual. As of now, the only related payments still being processed involve the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit, with $2.4 billion in unclaimed funds still being issued. But that process ends by January 2025.The IRS confirmed in bulletin IR-2024-314 that this is not a new cheque, just money left unclaimed from the third stimulus. Congress has not passed any law approving a fourth round. And the deadline to file for the third stimulus expired on 15 April 2025.Back in February, Donald Trump floated the idea of a one-time $5,000 'DOGE dividend' during a summit in Miami. He tied it to projected savings from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).Trump said, 'We are considering using part of the 20% in savings DOGE identified and giving that back to taxpayers.'That proposal, however, has gone nowhere. There's been no follow-up from Congress, no formal plan, and certainly no timeline. It remains just an idea with no structure or funding behind it.There's no denying that many Americans are feeling the pinch. Rising costs of rent, food and healthcare continue to put pressure on households, especially the elderly and low-income earners. Adams noted this in his article, and there is some factual basis to that concern.Social Security's Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2025 aims to provide some support. But it's not keeping pace with actual inflation rates.Economists cited by kiplinger.com calculated that the proposed DOGE savings of $130 billion, even if redistributed, would only amount to around $807 per taxpayer, far below the claimed $2,000. That figure also assumes full congressional approval, which has not been granted.As these rumours spread, so do the scams. Users on X (formerly Twitter) have flagged fake text messages and websites offering early access to the supposed cheque.The IRS is urging caution. In a statement, it advised citizens to 'check irs.gov for updates and avoid unsolicited payment requests.'It's also worth noting that some states have issued their own forms of inflation relief. These are not federal cheques, and the amounts are far smaller.For example, New York sent one-time inflation cheques of $200 for individuals earning up to $75,000, and $400 for married couples earning up to $150,000. Pennsylvania, Georgia and Colorado also issued what they termed 'rebate cheques' to qualifying taxpayers or property owners. Each state uses its own criteria.Let's put the $2,000 rumour into context by looking at the actual stimulus history:Any unclaimed stimulus payments had to be filed for via the 2021 tax return. The final deadline was 15 April 2025, with no extensions available. Even if a taxpayer requested a filing extension, that did not apply to the stimulus claim. The IRS made clear that 'any unclaimed stimulus payments become the property of the U.S. Treasury.'If you are waiting for a tax refund or think you might have missed a stimulus payment, the best step is to use the IRS's 'Where's My Refund' tool online. It updates daily and lets users track the progress of their federal return. You will need your Social Security number, filing status and the exact refund amount to access the tool.If you filed electronically with direct deposit, you can expect to see the refund in your account within 21 days. For paper filers, it might take up to eight weeks.Alternatively, the IRS helpline at 800-829-1954 is available for those unable to use the website.State refunds, meanwhile, must be tracked via each state's own tax portal. For example, the Delaware Division of Taxation and the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue each have dedicated online systems.