Amid discussions of new economic relief, President Donald Trump has proposed a tariff rebate for American taxpayers, while rumors of a fourth federal stimulus check continue to circulate without official confirmation.
On July 25, Trump suggested using revenue from tariffs on imported goods to fund direct payments to Americans. “We have so much money coming in, we’re thinking about a little rebate,” he commented, noting that paying down the national debt was also a key objective. Shortly after, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced the American Worker Rebate Act of 2025, a bill designed to send checks to working Americans.
This follows an earlier proposal from Trump in February for a “$5,000 DOGE dividend,” which would distribute savings identified by the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) back to taxpayers. However, no further details on that plan have been released.
These proposals differ from the pandemic-era stimulus checks, which were intended to broadly stimulate the economy. A rebate, by contrast, is a partial refund, in this case funded by specific government revenue.
While these new ideas are being discussed, there are no official plans from Congress or the IRS for a fourth round of stimulus checks. Widespread speculation online about a new $2,000 payment is unconfirmed, and officials warn the public to be cautious of misinformation and potential fraud.
The deadlines to claim the three previous Economic Impact Payments have now passed. The opportunity to file for the first two checks expired in 2021, and the three-year window to claim the third payment ($1,400 from 2021) as a Recovery Rebate Credit on a tax return closed on April 15, 2025. Any unclaimed funds have reverted to the U.S. Treasury.
While new federal stimulus is not on the agenda, several states are issuing their own financial relief. New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Colorado are among those that have provided one-time “inflation relief checks” or tax rebates to eligible residents. The amounts and qualification criteria for these programs vary by state.
For taxpayers awaiting their 2025 tax refunds, the IRS provides the “Where’s My Refund?” online tool for tracking purposes. Those who file electronically and opt for direct deposit can typically expect their refund within 21 days of the IRS accepting their return. Paper checks may take six to eight weeks to arrive by mail. The tool is updated daily and requires a taxpayer’s Social Security number, filing status, and exact refund amount.
Most states, including Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, offer similar online portals for tracking the status of state tax refunds. Taxpayers can find these tools on their state’s official department of revenue or taxation website.
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