Who Gets the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend in 2025
The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend is a yearly cash payment from the state's oil wealth fund, but not everyone who lives in Alaska receives it
The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) is money paid out each year to residents who meet specific requirements set by state law. The amount changes yearly based on how well the fund's investments perform. To receive the 2025 payment, you must have been a resident of Alaska for the entire calendar year 2024, be a U.S. citizen, and have no disqualifying felony convictions during that year. The state processes applications and payments through the Department of Revenue.
The payment is not automatic—you must submit an application each year, even if you received it before. The state opens the application period in early January and closes it in early March. If you miss the deadline, you lose that year's payment; there is no way to claim it later.
Key Takeaways
- You must have lived in Alaska for all of 2024 and be a U.S. citizen to receive the 2025 PFD payment.
- The application window opens in January and closes in early March each year, and missing the deadline means you forfeit that year's payment.
- Certain felony convictions during 2024 will disqualify you, and you must disclose them on your application.
- You can apply online through the Alaska Department of Revenue website or by mail if you do not have internet access.
- The payment amount varies each year; the state announces the 2025 amount in October after calculating investment returns.
Residency and citizenship requirements
To receive the 2025 PFD, you must have been physically present in Alaska for the entire year 2024—from January 1 through December 31. This means you cannot have left the state for work, school, or any other reason for more than a brief visit. The state considers you a resident if Alaska is your permanent home and you intend to remain there.
You must also be a U.S. citizen. Permanent residents, visa holders, and other non-citizens do not receive the PFD, even if they have lived in Alaska for many years. If you became a citizen in 2024, you are still may be able to access for the 2025 payment as long as you meet the residency requirement.
If you were incarcerated for the entire year 2024, you do not meet the residency requirement. However, if you were incarcerated for only part of the year, you may still be may be able to access as long as you were physically in Alaska for the rest of it.
Felony convictions and disqualification
You are disqualified from the 2025 PFD if you were convicted of a felony at any time during 2024. This includes felonies committed in Alaska or in any other state or country. The disqualification applies only to the year in which the conviction occurred; if you were convicted in 2023, you may still receive the 2024 payment, but not the 2025 one.
When you apply, you must answer a question about felony convictions. If you answer falsely, the state can recover the payment and pursue additional penalties. If you are unsure whether a conviction counts as a felony, contact the Alaska Department of Revenue before submitting your application.
Misdemeanor convictions do not disqualify you. Traffic violations, even serious ones, do not disqualify you unless they were charged as felonies.
How to apply for the 2025 payment
The Alaska Department of Revenue opens the PFD application portal in early January each year. You can apply online at the department's website using your Alaska ID number or Social Security number. The online application takes about 10 minutes and asks for your name, date of birth, residency history, and citizenship status.
If you do not have internet access or prefer to apply by mail, you can request a paper application by calling the Department of Revenue or visiting a local office. Paper applications must be postmarked by the deadline to count as on-time. The state does not accept applications by phone or email.
After you submit your application, the state sends you a confirmation. If the state needs more information—for example, proof of residency or citizenship—it will contact you by mail. You must respond within the timeframe given or your application may be denied.
What happens after you apply
The Department of Revenue processes applications throughout the spring and summer. If your application is approved, the state deposits the payment directly into your bank account in October. If you do not have a bank account, you can request a check by mail instead, though checks arrive later than direct deposits.
If your application is denied, the state sends you a letter explaining why. You can request a reconsideration by submitting additional documents or information within 30 days of the denial letter. If you disagree with the reconsideration decision, you can appeal to the state, though this process is lengthy and rarely overturns the original decision.
The 2025 payment amount will be announced in October 2024 after the state calculates the fund's investment returns for that year. The amount has ranged from about $800 to $2,000 in recent years, but this varies significantly based on market performance.
Special situations: dependents and minors
If you have children born in 2024, they are not may be able to access for the 2025 PFD because they were not residents for the entire year 2024. They become may be able to access starting in 2026, the first year they will have been residents for a full calendar year.
If you are a minor, a parent or guardian must apply on your behalf. The payment is held in a custodial account until you turn 18, at which point you can claim it. If both parents are deceased or unable to apply, a court-appointed guardian can submit the application.
If you were adopted in 2024, you are still may be able to access for the 2025 PFD as long as you were a resident for the entire year and meet all other requirements.
What to do if you miss the deadline
If you do not submit your application by the March deadline, you cannot receive the 2025 PFD. The state does not grant extensions, and there is no process to claim a missed payment in future years. The only exception is if the state's application system was down due to a technical failure on the final day; in that case, the state may extend the deadline by one or two days.
To avoid missing the deadline, apply as early as possible after the January opening date. Do not wait until late February or early March, when the system may experience high traffic and delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay taxes on the PFD payment?
No. The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend is not considered taxable income by the federal government or by Alaska. You do not report it on your federal tax return, and it does not affect your may be able to access for other programs like Medicaid or SNAP.
What if I moved to Alaska in 2024 but was not here for the entire year?
You are not may be able to access for the 2025 PFD because you were not a resident for all of 2024. You become may be able to access for the 2026 payment if you remain in Alaska through the end of 2025.
Can I apply if I am currently in prison or jail?
If you are incarcerated, you can still apply, but you must disclose your incarceration dates. If you were incarcerated for the entire year 2024, you do not meet the residency requirement and will be denied. If you were incarcerated for part of the year, you may still be may be able to access.
What if I have a pending felony charge but have not been convicted yet?
Pending charges do not disqualify you. Only actual convictions that occurred during 2024 disqualify you. If you are convicted after you apply but before the payment is issued, the state may recover the payment.
Can someone else apply on my behalf if I cannot do it myself?
You can authorize someone to help you apply, but you must sign the application yourself or have a court-appointed guardian sign it. The state does not accept applications signed only by a family member or friend without legal authority.