No Federal Stimulus Payments Are Planned for 2024 or 2025
The IRS is not sending out another round of federal stimulus payments this year
There is no federal stimulus payment coming in 2024 or 2025. The IRS has not announced plans for another round, Congress has not passed legislation authorizing one, and no payment is in development. If you see ads or emails claiming otherwise, they are scams designed to steal your personal information or money.
The last federal stimulus payment was the third Economic Impact Payment, sent between March and December 2021. That program ended. Since then, no new stimulus has been authorized by Congress, and the IRS does not issue payments on its own — only Congress can create a new stimulus program.
If you are facing financial hardship, there are other programs that may help: unemployment insurance, rental assistance, food programs, utility assistance, and tax credits you can claim when you file your return. Those are real, ongoing programs with money available right now.
Key Takeaways
- No federal stimulus payment has been authorized for 2024, 2025, or any year after 2021.
- Only Congress can create a new stimulus program — the IRS cannot issue payments without legislation.
- Ads, emails, or texts claiming a stimulus payment is coming are scams; the IRS will never contact you first about money owed to you.
- If you need financial help, look into unemployment benefits, rental assistance, food programs, utility assistance, or tax credits instead.
- The IRS will never ask for personal information, bank details, or payment to send you money.
Why stimulus payments stopped after 2021
Congress passed three stimulus bills during the COVID-19 pandemic: the CARES Act (March 2020), the Consolidated Appropriations Act (December 2020), and the American Rescue Plan (March 2021). Each authorized the IRS to send one round of payments to may be able to access households. Once the money in each bill ran out, that program ended.
No new stimulus legislation has passed since March 2021. Congress would have to vote to authorize another round, fund it, and pass it into law. That has not happened. The IRS cannot create stimulus payments on its own — it can only carry out programs Congress has already created and funded.
If Congress does pass new stimulus legislation in the future, news will come from official government sources: Congress itself, the Treasury Department, and the IRS website (irs.gov). You will not hear about it first from an email, text, or ad.
How to spot stimulus payment scams
Scammers send emails, texts, and ads claiming a stimulus payment is waiting for you — but only if you click a link, call a number, or enter your Social Security number and bank details. These are all scams. Real stimulus payments are sent automatically by the IRS to your bank account or by mail; you do not have to do anything to receive them.
The IRS will never contact you first about money it owes you. The IRS contacts people when you owe them money — and even then, it sends official letters by mail, not emails or texts. If someone claiming to be from the IRS contacts you about a payment, it is a scam.
Do not click links in unsolicited emails or texts about stimulus payments. Do not call numbers provided in ads. Do not enter your Social Security number, date of birth, bank account number, or routing number into any website you did not navigate to yourself. If you are unsure whether something is real, go directly to irs.gov or call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
What to do if you need money right now
If you are short on rent, food, utilities, or other essentials, several programs may help — and they are real, ongoing, and do not require you to wait for Congress to act.
Unemployment insurance is available in every state if you lost your job or had your hours cut. You can file through your state's labor department website. Benefits vary by state but typically replace part of your lost wages for up to 26 weeks.
Rental assistance is run by your city or county and pays landlords directly for rent you owe. You can find local programs through 211.org or by calling 2-1-1. Many programs are still accepting applications.
Food assistance (SNAP, formerly food stamps) is available through your state's social services office. You can apply online in most states. Benefits are loaded onto a card you use like a debit card at grocery stores.
Utility assistance helps pay electric, gas, water, and heating bills. Programs are run by your state or local government. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is the largest federal program; your state's energy office can tell you how to apply.
Tax credits can put money in your pocket when you file your tax return. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit are the largest. You do not have to owe taxes to claim them — if your credit is larger than what you owe, you get the difference back as a refund.
How the real stimulus payments worked (2020–2021)
The three stimulus payments sent between 2020 and 2021 worked the same way. Congress passed a bill, the President signed it, and the IRS used tax return information to identify may be able to access people. The IRS then sent payments automatically — either by direct deposit to the bank account on file, or by check or debit card in the mail.
You did not have to apply, call anyone, or enter information online. If you filed a tax return in 2019 or 2020, the IRS already had your information. Payments went out in waves over several months. The first payment was $1,200 per adult, the second was $600, and the third was $1,400 (amounts varied slightly for dependents).
Because those programs are over, the IRS is not sending out any more stimulus payments unless Congress passes new legislation. There is no backlog, no delayed payment, and no payment waiting for you to claim it.
Where to report stimulus payment scams
If you receive an email, text, or call about a stimulus payment that seems suspicious, report it. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) takes reports at reportfraud.ftc.gov. You can also forward phishing emails to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.
If you already gave out personal information or money, act fast. Contact your bank or credit card company to report fraud. Place a fraud alert with the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) by calling 1-888-397-3742. You can also file a report with the FTC at identitytheft.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Could Congress pass a new stimulus payment in the future?
Yes, Congress could pass new stimulus legislation at any time. But no bill is currently in progress, and you will hear about it from official sources — Congress, the Treasury Department, and irs.gov — not from emails or ads. Do not trust anyone claiming to know about a future payment before it is officially announced.
What if I did not receive one of the three stimulus payments from 2020 or 2021?
If you were may be able to access but did not receive a payment, you may be able to claim it as a credit on your tax return. You will need to file a return for the year the payment was supposed to go out. A tax professional or free tax preparation service (like VITA, run by the IRS) can help you determine if you are owed money and file the claim.
Is there a way to check if I got all three stimulus payments?
Yes. Go to irs.gov and use the "Get My Payment" tool (though it is no longer active for new payments, it shows your payment history). You can also look at your tax return transcripts, which show whether the IRS recorded each payment. Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 if you need help reading your transcript.
What if I owe taxes — will the government take my stimulus payment?
If a new stimulus payment were issued and you owed back taxes, child support, or other federal debt, the government could offset (take) part or all of your payment. This happened with some of the 2020 and 2021 payments. There is no way to prevent this, but you can reduce what you owe by setting up a payment plan with the IRS.
Are there any other federal payments coming this year?
No blanket federal payments are scheduled. However, specific programs send money regularly: Social Security, unemployment insurance, tax refunds, and various assistance programs. If you are enrolled in any of these, you will continue to receive payments. Check your specific program's website or contact the agency running it to confirm your status.