Will there be a fourth $1,390 stimulus check from the government? What to know

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a formal explanation regarding a rumor being circulated, which claims that the US government has agreed to issue $1,390 stimulus checks to low-income and middle-income taxpayers by the end of this summer.

As per an IRS spokesperson’s official statement to NBC Chicago, “There is no recovery rebate credit for taxpayers to claim” since no formal legislation in this matter has been passed by Congress. Many officials instead believe that this confusion might have to do with mistaking the recovery rebate credit on 2021 tax returns as additional stimulus payments.

The first stimulus payment was issued in March and April 2020, followed by a second payment issued on January 15, 2021, and a third check issued between March and December 2021. The deadline to file for the last payment passed on April 15, 2025, which marked a three-year end to claim the $1,400 Recovery Rebate Credit for that year. If you failed to file your tax returns by this deadline, all unclaimed stimulus payments would now have become the property of the US Treasury.

Certain pre-set criteria determine whether a US citizen or resident is eligible to receive a federal refund on taxes, such as the beneficiary must not be dependent on someone else’s tax returns. According to the official website of the US Department of the Treasury, “Normally, a taxpayer will qualify for the full amount of Economic Impact Payment if they have AGI of up to $75,000 for singles and married persons filing a separate return, up to $112,500 for heads of household, and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns and surviving spouses. Payment amounts are reduced for eligible individuals with AGI above those levels.”

“Where’s My Refund” is an online portal used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to help applicants check the status of their refund digitally. The platform requires viewers to enter their Social Security Number, filing status, and exact refund amount on the return. This can be done 24 hours after e-filing your returns, and the website will respond with a return received (processing), refund approved (preparing to issue a refund by the date shown), or refund sent (sent to your bank or in the mail) prompt.

In case of any queries, you can directly reach out to the IRS at 800-829-1954. According to the IRS schedule for payments, a direct deposit federal refund should have reached you by May 6, while one by mail may have taken till June 16 in this regard.

James Fishback, CEO OF Arizona Investment, first pitched the idea that if the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is able to save up to $2 trillion by cutting back on government waste and inefficiencies, then 20% of that amount could be returned to taxpayers as their rightful claim over the administration’s cost-cutting benefits.

The idea had found widespread support among Elon Musk, then head of DOGE, and President Trump, both of whom had supported the proposal in theory. If implemented, this could result in $5,000 payments for each of the 78 million tax-paying households in the US. As of now, there is no official order from Congress, the IRS, or the White House regarding a possible fourth economic impact payment.

Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri introduced the American Worker Rebate Act in July, which would share the tax tariff with eligible citizens through rebates. “The proposed rebates would amount to at least $600 per individual, with additional payments for qualifying children. Rebates could increase if tariff revenue is higher than expected. Taxpayers with an adjusted annual gross income above a certain amount — $75,000 for those filing individually — would receive a reduced rebate,” reports NBC Chicago.

The bill has been read twice in the Senate but hasn’t been formally approved to pass as of yet.

– With inputs from Stuti Gupta

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