$1,390 Fourth Stimulus Check: Is the Government Sending More Money Soon?

The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a clarification on a recent rumor that claimed the US government would issue $1,390 stimulus checks to low- and middle-income taxpayers by the end of this summer. An IRS spokesperson told NBC Chicago that “there is no Recovery Rebate Credit claimable by taxpayers.” This is because Congress has not passed any formal legislation in this regard. Experts believe that the confusion may have arisen from the Recovery Rebate Credit included in 2021 tax returns, which some people misinterpreted as a new stimulus payment. The rumor has spread rapidly on social media and various online platforms, causing confusion among ordinary citizens, especially among those who are expecting financial help.

The first three stimulus payments and their timeline

Three stimulus payments have been made in the United States so far. The first payment was issued in March and April 2020 during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, the second payment was made on January 15, 2021 and the third payment was distributed between March and December 2021. Through these checks, the US government tried to provide economic relief to the citizens. The last date to claim the last payment was April 15, 2025. If a citizen or taxpayer did not file his tax return by this deadline, the unreceived stimulus payment until that time went to the US Treasury. This ensures that any unreceived amount will no longer be available to individual taxpayers.

Eligibility Criteria and Rules

The eligibility for any US citizen or resident to receive a federal refund is based on certain predefined criteria. The most important condition is that the beneficiary should not be a dependent on someone else’s tax return. According to the official website of the US Treasury Department, in general, if the AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) of a single taxpayer or a married taxpayer filing separately is up to $75,000, up to $112,500 for heads of household, and up to $150,000 for married couples filing jointly and surviving spouses, they will be eligible for the full amount of Economic Impact Payment. If the AGI exceeds these limits, payments for eligible taxpayers are reduced. This system ensures that economic assistance reaches those who really need it.

How to check your refund status?

The IRS has made available an online portal called “Where’s My Refund” for taxpayers to check the status of their refund digitally. For this, the taxpayer has to enter his social security number, filing status and the exact refund amount mentioned on the return. This process can be started 24 hours after e-filing. Three types of statuses are visible on the portal:

• Return Received: This means that your return has been received by the IRS and processing has begun.
• Refund Approved: Your refund has been approved and will be sent via bank or mail by the specified date.
• Refund Sent: The refund has been sent to your bank account or by mail.

If a taxpayer has any questions regarding the refund, they can directly contact the IRS at 800-829-1954. According to the IRS, federal refunds via direct deposit should be received by May 6, while for checks sent by mail, this date can be up to June 16.

Fourth Stimulus Check: Is It Possible?

There has been no official announcement yet that a fourth stimulus check will be released. However, there have been some proposals and discussions in this direction. James Fischbach, CEO of Arizona Investment, suggested that if the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) saves $2 trillion by cutting government spending, 20% of it could be returned to taxpayers. This proposal was supported in principle by Elon Musk and then-President Trump. If this were implemented, every 78 million taxpayer family could be paid $5,000. But currently, there has been no official order from Congress, the IRS, or the White House on this.

American Worker Rebate Act

In July 2025, Republican Senator Josh Hawley introduced the American Worker Rebate Act. According to this bill, if tax tariff revenue exceeds expectations, eligible citizens can be paid in the form of rebates. According to the report, “The proposed rebate will be at least $600 per person, with additional payments for eligible children. Taxpayers with income above the limit set in the income tax will get a cut in the rebate.” However, the bill has been read only twice in the Senate so far and has not been formally passed.

Stimulus checks and fraud prevention

Recent rumors and speculations have also led to many online fraud attempts. Some fake websites and applications are asking taxpayers for personal information and bank details. The IRS has warned not to apply from any unknown or unauthorized source and to get information only from official portals and government websites like irs.gov.

Conclusion

There is no official order or law passed for the fourth stimulus check yet. If you are eligible for a stimulus payment, checking the status from the IRS’s online portal and official government sources is the safe and reliable way. Relying on rumors or applying from unauthorized sources can be risky for taxpayers. At this time citizens need to be patient and wait for the official announcement.

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