When the IRS Sends 2025 Stimulus Payments and How to Track Yours

The IRS has not announced stimulus payments for 2025

As of now, there is no federal stimulus payment program scheduled for 2025. The most recent round of direct payments to households ended in 2021, when the third Economic Impact Payment (often called the third stimulus check) was distributed. Congress would need to pass new legislation to create a new stimulus program, and no such bill has been enacted or scheduled for a vote.

If you received stimulus payments in 2020 or 2021, you may still be dealing with tax questions about those payments. The IRS has also issued refunds to people who were incorrectly denied stimulus money or who received less than they were owed. Understanding what happened with past payments and what to watch for is more useful right now than waiting for an announcement that may never come.

Key Takeaways

• No stimulus payments are currently scheduled for 2025; any new program would require Congress to pass legislation first.
• If you did not receive a stimulus payment you were owed in 2020 or 2021, you can claim it on your tax return as the Recovery Rebate Credit.
• The IRS has been sending refunds to people who were underpaid or missed out on stimulus money, but you do not have to wait—you can file now.
• Scams claiming to offer early or may provide stimulus payments are common; the IRS never contacts people by phone, email, or text to offer money.

How to claim stimulus money you missed on your 2024 tax return

If you did not receive all the stimulus payments you were may have access to to in 2020, 2021, or both years, you can claim the missing amount when you file your 2024 tax return. The IRS calls this the Recovery Rebate Credit. You will need to report how much you received and how much you should have received based on your income and household size in each year.

To calculate what you were owed, you can use the IRS's online tool or review the payment records the IRS mailed to you at the time. If you do not have those records, the IRS can look them up for you. When you file your return, your tax preparer or tax software will walk you through the Recovery Rebate Credit questions. The credit reduces your tax bill dollar-for-dollar, and if the credit is larger than your tax bill, you receive the difference as a refund.

What to do if the IRS already sent you a refund for missed stimulus money

Starting in 2022, the IRS began issuing refunds to people who had been underpaid or missed stimulus payments entirely. These refunds were sent automatically to people whose 2020 tax returns showed they were owed more money than they had received. If you received an unexpected refund check or deposit from the IRS during 2022, 2023, or 2024, it may have been a stimulus correction.

You do not need to do anything if you already received this money. The IRS has a record of it, and it will not affect your 2024 tax return. If you are unsure whether a refund you received was for stimulus money or another reason, you can contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and provide the date and amount of the deposit. Keep any letters the IRS sent you about the refund, as they explain what the money was for.

How stimulus payments worked in 2020 and 2021

The federal government sent three rounds of direct payments to households during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first payment, in spring 2020, sent $1,200 per adult and $500 per child to most households. The second payment, in early 2021, sent $600 per adult and $600 per child. The third payment, in spring 2021, sent $1,400 per adult and $1,400 per child. may be able to access was based on income, filing status, and household size, and the IRS used tax return information from 2019 or 2020 to determine who may have access to.

The payments were sent in three ways: direct deposit to a bank account on file with the IRS, a mailed check, or a prepaid debit card. Most people received their money within weeks of the payment date, though some checks took longer to arrive. If you moved between payment rounds, you may have missed one or more payments, or received them at an old address. That is why the Recovery Rebate Credit exists—to catch people who fell through the cracks.

Recognizing stimulus payment scams

Scammers regularly pose as the IRS to trick people into sending money or sharing personal information. Common scams claim to offer early stimulus payments, may provide a larger payment than you are owed, or ask you to "verify" your information to unlock money. The IRS does not work this way. The IRS never initiates contact by phone, email, text message, or social media to offer money or ask for personal details.

If someone contacts you claiming to represent the IRS and offering stimulus money, hang up or delete the message. Do not click links or download attachments. If you want to check on your own stimulus payment status, go directly to IRS.gov or call the IRS's official number, 1-800-829-1040. You can also report scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at tigta.gov.

What happens if Congress passes a new stimulus program

If Congress passes legislation creating a new stimulus payment program in 2025, the IRS will announce the details publicly, including who is may be able to access, how much each person will receive, and when payments will be sent. The announcement will be posted on IRS.gov and shared through official IRS social media accounts. You will not need to apply or register; the IRS will use tax return information to identify may be able to access people and send payments automatically.

The best way to stay informed is to check IRS.gov periodically or sign up for IRS email updates on the website. Do not rely on emails, texts, or calls claiming to offer stimulus money—those are always scams. If you want to know whether you are may be able to access for any current relief programs, you can explore options through your state's housing authority or local 211 service, which can point you toward programs that may be running now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get stimulus money if I did not file a tax return in 2020 or 2021?

Yes. You can file a 2020 or 2021 tax return now, even though those years have passed, and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for any stimulus money you did not receive. You will need to provide income information from that year. A tax preparer or the IRS can help you gather what you need.

What if I received stimulus money but I was not supposed to?

You do not have to pay it back. The stimulus payments were not loans. The IRS has not pursued people who received overpayments, and there is no mechanism to claw back the money. If you are concerned, you can contact the IRS, but you are not at risk of owing anything.

How do I know how much stimulus money I received?

The IRS mailed you a letter for each payment round showing the amount sent. If you do not have those letters, you can create an account on IRS.gov and view your payment history, or call 1-800-829-1040 and provide your Social Security number and filing status.

Will I owe taxes on stimulus money I received?

No. Stimulus payments are not taxable income, and you do not report them as income on your tax return. They do not reduce your refund or increase what you owe.

What if I moved and never received a stimulus check?

File your current-year tax return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for the amount you did not receive. The IRS will send you a refund for the missing payment. You do not need to track down the old check.