The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) confirmed there are no new federal checks or automatic relief payments authorized for this month.A fact check by KTVU shows, “No new federal stimulus checks are authorized … Congress has not passed new legislation, and the IRS has made no confirmation.”
The confusion has arisen amid online posts referencing a proposed “tariff dividend” plan floated by President Donald Trump that would use tariff revenue to send payments of $2,000 or more.
Source of confusion and Scam emails
A viral social-media post and early stimulus initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused confusion among the beneficiaries.
The other source of confusion arises because of the Truth Social post Trump made on Sunday that says, “A dividend of at least $2,000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone. ”
These tariff income payouts are still only suggestions at the moment. No payments have been authorized.
KTVU Fox highlights that many so-called “stimulus alerts” are phishing attempts. Fake emails or texts asking for bank account details or Social Security numbers have been circulating.
The IRS never initiates such communications.
What should you do?
The IRS states that one should verify any communication regarding the IRS stimulus.
Verifying with official sources is one way to go about it. Only rely on IRS.gov or the Treasury Department for legitimate news.
To ensure you are eligible for any payment, make sure to file your tax returns and keep information up to date. If a legitimate program is launched, being in good standing will help assure you’re eligible.
IRS has also asked to ignore posts asking for immediate action to “claim” a payment. Those are likely scams. Any message that pushes urgent sign-ups or links to claim money should be treated with caution.
How to Protect Yourself from Scams
If you see messages or emails claiming a guaranteed $2,000 IRS deposit soon, treat them with caution. The IRS will not contact you by text or email asking for bank information to send a payment, and you should never click unknown links or give out personal data. Always use official tools like IRS.gov to check refund status or payment programs.
Here’s a simple checklist:
| What to Do | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Go to IRS.gov | Official information only |
| Don’t click unknown links | Many scams look real |
| Verify your tax refund online | Gets real status |
| Update direct deposit on IRS account | For regular refunds |