As 2025 continues, many taxpayers are still left with questions about pending stimulus payments or eagerly awaiting their tax refunds. With rumors circulating and confusion about what’s still available, it’s important to get clear on what you can still claim and what you may have missed.
Stimulus Payments: What’s Left to Claim in 2025
The first three federal stimulus checks—which were part of relief packages during and after the pandemic—are officially closed for claims. If you missed the deadlines, unfortunately, there’s no way to get those funds now.
The final deadline to claim the third stimulus check (up to $1,400 per person and for each dependent) was April 15, 2025. Once that date passed, any unclaimed funds are now considered part of the federal government’s operating expenses and cannot be accessed again.
Here’s a breakdown of the three stimulus checks:
First stimulus check (2020): Up to $1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for couples, and $500 per qualifying child.
Second stimulus check (2021): Up to $600 for individuals, $1,200 for couples, and $600 per child.
Third stimulus check (2021): Up to $1,400 per eligible person, including dependents.
If you missed claiming any of these payments, your best option now is to contact the IRS or consult a trusted tax professional to explore eligibility for credits you can still claim on your current tax returns.
What About a Fourth Stimulus Check?
The idea of a fourth stimulus check has been circulating on social media, with rumors suggesting amounts as high as $2,000 or even more. However, these are unofficial claims, and there has been no confirmation from Congress or the IRS to support these rumors. Experts have warned that some of these discussions could be misleading or even fraudulent.
In February 2025, former President Donald Trump proposed the idea of a $5,000 “DOGE dividend”, which he claimed could come from efficiency savings related to the cryptocurrency DOGE.
However, this idea never gained traction, and Elon Musk’s involvement in the project ended without any official proposal. Therefore, the chances of receiving another round of government checks anytime soon seem very unlikely.
Focus on 2025 Tax Refunds
While past stimulus checks may be behind us, your attention should now be on your 2025 tax refund. If you filed your return electronically and provided bank details, you can expect your refund to arrive in about 21 days via direct deposit.
However, if you didn’t provide your banking information, you may receive a paper check in the mail, which could take anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks to arrive.
It’s important to note that filing your return is not the same as it being accepted. After filing, you can check the status of your refund using the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool on IRS.gov. It’s available 24 hours after filing, and you’ll need your Social Security Number (SSN), filing status, and expected refund amount to track your status.
Here are the possible status updates:
Return Received: The IRS has received your return, and they are processing it.
Refund Approved: Your refund is approved, and you’ll receive an estimated mailing date if a check is being sent.
Refund Sent: Your refund has been sent, and the money should arrive soon.
Once your refund is approved, the IRS works quickly to send your money, especially if you’ve opted for direct deposit.
While past stimulus payments are officially behind us, you can still focus on your 2025 tax refund. If you haven’t filed yet, make sure to get your returns in as soon as possible to avoid delays.
If you have already filed, use the IRS tools to track your refund and ensure that everything is in order. If you missed any previous stimulus checks, contacting the IRS or a tax professional is your best bet to figure out any remaining options.
