A few weeks ago, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) finished the distribution of pandemic-related stimulus checks has concluded. In total, the federal tax agency made automatic payments of $2.4 billion. These funds benefited nearly 1 million taxpayers who failed to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit in 2021. The payments were sent via direct deposit or physical check.
The IRS set April 15, 2025, as the deadline for non-filers to claim this credit. This deadline has already passed with no extension options, so those Americans who claimed their money (which belonged to them) have now lost it forever. The unclaimed amounts revert to the federal government and will be used for government expenses.
Are new stimulus checks coming? What we know (and what we don’t)
The Recovery Rebate Credit was part of the third pandemic stimulus payment of $1,400. Eligibility required a specific adjusted gross income and a valid Social Security number. Citizens and legal residents could access the benefit by filing their tax return on time.
The AGI thresholds for the credit were $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for couples. Eligibility disappeared completely at $80,000 and $160,000, respectively. Filing a 2021 tax return was required, even with minimal income. The IRS does not accept claims after April 15, 2025.
Some states maintain local economic support programs. New York provided payments of between $150 and $400 to qualifying residents. California and Colorado implemented similar measures called “inflation checks.” These initiatives are independent of any recent federal action.
Taxpayers who received automatic payments were notified by mail. The status of refunds or payments can be checked using the IRS’s “Where’s My Refund” tool. This tool requires a Social Security number, filing status, and expected amount. For state refunds, there are portals such as Maine Revenue Services.
Unconfirmed proposals for new federal payments are circulating. In February 2025, a “DOGE Dividend” of $5,000 per household was mentioned. This initiative emerged from conversations between Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The original proposal would fund the checks with budget savings.
The proposal has faced significant obstacles from its inception. It requires legislative approval from Congress, a process that has not yet begun. Elon Musk’s departure from the Department of Government Efficiency in May creates uncertainty. Economic experts question the viability of the underlying budget cuts.
The plan proposed distributing 20% of the estimated $2 trillion in federal savings. Trump advisor James Fishback designed the financing mechanism. It sought to avoid deficits, using only operational cuts identified by the DOGE. Eligibility would prioritize households with net income and AGI above $40,000. Reports from April 2025 indicate actual savings of $155 billion in DOGE. This equates to approximately $1,000 per individual taxpayer. The figure is far from the $5,000 per household initially promised. The necessary $2 trillion seems unattainable based on current data.
DOGE’s ambitious proposal to return $5,000 to millions of American families
Musk’s departure from DOGE complicates the project’s implementation. Media outlets such as Newsweek pointed out the “doubt” surrounding the checks in June. Economists warn of inflationary risks from injecting this capital. The absence of a formal bill limits legislative discussion.
Recent checks rule out concrete progress. Media sites confirmed on June 18 that “no new federal checks have been approved,” while a source in Washington denied viral rumors about distribution in June. Yahoo News reported on June 17 that “dividend progress appears to be stalled.”
James Fishback continues to promote the idea, claiming political support for it, but more recently, he has provided no updates or definitive data. There is also no evidence of legislative or administrative development or negotiations at a congressional level.
Trump’s White House has also issued no recent statements on the issue, and with the new geopolitical conflicts, it appears he will be more preoccupied with matters of greater significance. That’s all we know and don’t know about the new stimulus payments that are designed to—as the name suggests—boost local economies.
