No stimulus payment is scheduled right now, but Congress can pass new ones at any time

As of early 2025, there is no active federal stimulus payment program and no announced plan for one. The last round of stimulus checks — the third Economic Impact Payment — went out in 2021. Whether another payment happens depends entirely on Congress passing new legislation, which is not predictable.

What you can do is understand how stimulus payments work when they do exist, watch for real announcements from official sources, and protect yourself from scams that claim a payment is coming.

Key Takeaways

  • Congress must pass a law to create a stimulus payment; no payment is currently authorized or scheduled.
  • The IRS announces stimulus payments through official channels like IRS.gov and press releases, never through email, text, or social media first.
  • Scammers regularly claim stimulus payments are coming to trick people into giving up personal information or money.
  • If Congress does pass a stimulus law, the IRS typically begins payments within weeks and continues for several months.
  • You do not need to take any action to receive a stimulus payment if one is authorized — the IRS finds you through tax records.

How stimulus payments actually get created

A stimulus payment requires an act of Congress. A bill must pass both the House and Senate, be signed by the President, and include specific language authorizing the payment, the amount, and who receives it. This is not a standing program that runs automatically — each payment is a separate decision made during an economic crisis or downturn.

The three payments that did happen occurred in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. They were authorized by the CARES Act (March 2020), the Consolidated Appropriations Act (December 2020), and the American Rescue Plan (March 2021). No similar legislation has passed since then.

Congress could pass a new stimulus bill tomorrow, or it might never happen again. There is no way to predict this, and no official source can tell you when or if it will occur.

Where real stimulus announcements come from

If Congress does pass a stimulus law, the IRS will announce it through official channels. The first place to check is IRS.gov — the agency posts major announcements on the homepage and in a dedicated news section. The IRS also issues press releases through its official newsroom.

You may also see announcements from the Treasury Department, which oversees the IRS, or from Congress itself if a bill is being debated. Major news outlets will report on it as well.

The IRS will never announce a stimulus payment through email, text message, social media, or a phone call. If someone contacts you claiming a payment is coming and asking you to verify information, confirm your bank account, or pay a fee, that is a scam.

How to spot stimulus payment scams

Scammers use the idea of stimulus payments to steal personal information, Social Security numbers, bank details, and money. Common tactics include emails claiming you have unclaimed stimulus funds, texts saying you need to "verify" your payment, and calls from people pretending to be IRS agents.

Real stimulus payments come automatically — you do not need to do anything to receive one if you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien with a valid Social Security number and a tax filing requirement. You will never be asked to pay money upfront, provide a PIN or password, or click a link in an unsolicited email to claim it.

If you receive a message about a stimulus payment you did not expect, do not respond. Do not click links or download attachments. You can report it to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov if it claims to be from the IRS, or to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

What happens if a new stimulus law passes

If Congress authorizes a new payment, the IRS typically begins sending checks or making direct deposits within two to four weeks of the law being signed. The agency continues payments for several months to reach everyone who qualifies.

The IRS uses information from your most recent tax return to determine if you may have access to and where to send the payment. If you filed a return in the past two years, the IRS already has your address and bank account information. You do not need to register, sign up, or take any action.

If you did not file a tax return recently and a stimulus payment is authorized, the IRS may set up a tool to let you enter your information. The agency will announce this clearly on IRS.gov and through news outlets. Again, this would be free and would not require you to pay anything.

How to stay informed without falling for false claims

The safest way to know about a real stimulus payment is to check IRS.gov directly or follow official IRS social media accounts (which are verified and labeled as official). You can also watch major news outlets, which will report on any new stimulus law within hours of it passing.

Do not rely on emails, texts, or calls to tell you about a payment. Do not trust websites that claim to help you "find" stimulus money or that ask for personal information. Do not pay anyone to help you get a stimulus payment.

If you have questions about whether you received a past stimulus payment or where it went, you can use the IRS's Get My Payment tool, which was available during the 2020 and 2021 payments. If a new payment is authorized, the IRS will announce whether a similar tool is available.

What to do if you think you missed a past payment

If you believe you should have received one of the three stimulus payments from 2020 or 2021 but did not, you can claim it on your tax return. The IRS calls this the Recovery Rebate Credit. You report it on your federal tax return for the year the payment was supposed to go out.

To claim a Recovery Rebate Credit, you will need to file a tax return for that year (or amend one you already filed). A tax professional or free tax preparation service can help you do this. The IRS also has instructions on its website for claiming the credit yourself.

This is different from a future stimulus payment. If Congress passes a new stimulus law, you would receive that payment separately, not by filing a tax return.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if a stimulus payment announcement is real?

Check IRS.gov directly or look for reporting from major news outlets. The IRS will not contact you first by email, text, or phone. If you see a claim about a stimulus payment on social media or in an unsolicited message, assume it is false until you verify it on an official government website.

Will I automatically get a stimulus payment if one is authorized?

Yes. If you filed a tax return in the past two years, the IRS has your information and will send the payment without you doing anything. You do not need to register, apply, or take action. The payment comes automatically to your address or bank account on file.

What if I did not file a tax return and a stimulus payment is authorized?

The IRS would likely set up a tool to let you enter your information. This would be announced on IRS.gov and would be free. You would not need to pay anyone or provide information to a third-party website.

Can I get a stimulus payment if I owe taxes or child support?

This depends on the law Congress passes. In past stimulus payments, some were reduced or withheld if you owed back taxes or child support, but not all were. The IRS will explain the rules clearly when a new payment is authorized.

Where can I report a stimulus payment scam?

Report emails claiming to be from the IRS to phishing@irs.gov. Report other scams to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. You can also report scam calls to the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.