The US Internal Revenue Service has paid approximately $800 billion to Americans in recent years to alleviate economic distress amid the COVID-19 pandemic. These came in the form of three stimulus cheques issued in 2020 and 2021 as part of an economic relief package for affected Americans. The IRS had also made special automatic payments in late 2024 and early 2025 to about one million taxpayers who had missed claiming the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit. Unverified claims have also spread in recent days about a fresh payment of $1,390 for some taxpayers — prompting the IRS to issue a clarification.
$1,390 stimulus check?
The misleading claim gained traction on social media this week — suggesting that low and middle-income Americans would soon receive $1,390 checks. An IRS official told AP news that there was no plan for taxpayers to receive new stimulus checks of any amount this summer. Such economic impact payments have to be authorised by Congress through legislation and distributed by the US Treasury Department. No such bill has been passed by the Senate or Congress at this time.
The confusion appears to have been fuelled by the IRS payments made in early 2025 to taxpayers who had not claimed the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit. The one-time catch-up payment appears to have prompted rumours and false claims about a fresh payout in late 2025.
Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri had also introduced a bill last month to give tax rebates to some Americans using revenue from the sweeping tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. The Bill has not managed to pass the Senate or the House.
What are IRS stimulus cheques?
Officially called Economic Impact Payments, these were direct relief payments made by the US Treasury Department amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It was intended to provide eligible American individuals and families with immediate economic relief. The payments were authorised in three rounds amid the pandemic between 2020 and 2021.
The CARES Act in March 2020 provided up to $1,200 per eligible adult and $500 per qualifying child while the subsequent COVID-related Tax Relief Act of December 2020 issued up to $600 per eligible adult and $600 per qualifying child. This was followed by the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021 — providing up to $1,400 per eligible individual plus $1,400 for each dependent.
The IRS announced early this year that it would distribute about $2.4 billion to taxpayers who failed to claim on their 2021 tax returns a Recovery Rebate Credit — a refundable credit for individuals who did not receive one or more COVID-19 stimulus checks. The maximum amount was $1,400 per individual.
(With inputs from agencies)