Is the IRS sending stimulus checks in 2025? How to track latest refund

Are you anticipating a possible fourth stimulus check or looking for other inflation relief or tax refunds from the IRS this year? 

On July 25, President Donald Trump suggested the idea of sending American taxpayers a tariff rebate check, saying, “We have so much money coming in, we’re thinking about a little rebate. But the big thing we want to do is pay down debt. But we’re thinking about a rebate.”

Here’s what to know if stimulus checks are coming your way.

There has been no indication that a fourth stimulus check will be issued as a result of cost-cutting measures. Any form of stimulus payment issued by the U.S. government would have to be approved by Congress. Don’t expect a check anytime soon.

The first stimulus check provided up to $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for married couples, plus an additional $500 for each qualifying child under 17.

The second round offered up to $600 per individual, $1,200 for married couples, and $600 per qualifying child under 17.

The third stimulus payment increased to $1,400 for each eligible individual, with married couples filing jointly receiving an extra $1,400 for every qualifying dependent.

The window to claim or file for the first stimulus payment (distributed in March and April 2020), the second stimulus check (sent by Jan. 15, 2021), or the third stimulus check (issued between March and December 2021) has now closed. For the third and final stimulus payment, the filing deadline was April 15, 2025, marking the three-year limit to request any tax refunds, including the $1,400 Recovery Rebate Credit for 2021.

On the IRS.gov site, taxpayers who filed their returns can see their refund status on the “Where’s My Refund?” tool. To see the status, you must enter the following information:

• Your Social Security or individual taxpayer ID number (ITIN)
• Your filing status
• The exact refund amount on your return
• Once the information is entered, you will see one of the following:
• Return Received – The IRS received your return and are processing it.
• Refund Approved – The IRS approved your refund and are preparing to issue it by the date shown.
• Refund Sent – The IRS sent the refund to your bank or you in the mail. It may take five days for it to show in your bank account or several weeks for your check to arrive in the mail.

The timeline for your refund depends on how you filed the tax return.

If you file electronically, your return is processed much faster than if you file a paper return and wait for a check. According to the IRS, most refunds are issued in less than three weeks.

The IRS advises taxpayers not to depend on receiving a refund by a specific date, particularly when making significant purchases or paying bills. Some returns may need further review, which could take more time.

There are a bevy of reasons why a tax return gets delayed. Here are the most common reasons, as per the IRS:

• The return has errors, is incomplete, or is affected by identity theft or fraud.
• The return needs a correction to the child tax credit or recovery rebate credit amount.
• The return has a claim filed for an earned income tax credit or additional child tax credit or includes a Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation PDF.
• The time it takes a taxpayer’s bank or credit union to post the refund to the taxpayer’s account.

A rebate is a partial refund given to someone after they’ve purchased a product or paid for a service. Unlike a discount (which lowers the price at the time of purchase), a rebate is typically paid back later, often after the customer submits proof of purchase or meets certain conditions.

Trump has suggested using a portion of the government revenue generated from the new tariffs to provide rebate checks to taxpayers within certain income brackets, similar to the stimulus payments issued during the pandemic.

In February, he also floated the idea of distributing $5,000 stimulus checks as a “DOGE dividend” during a summit in Miami. He described the plan as returning part of the 20% savings identified by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) back to taxpayers. Since then, however, he has not released any additional details or confirmed whether the “DOGE dividend” will move forward.