Not sure if you’re still due a stimulus check from the COVID era or if you’ve heard that another one will be coming in July?
People may also be waiting for a tax refund in 2024 if they filed their return this year.
Here is what you need to know about any possible tax refunds and relief checks.
Can I still claim a stimulus check?
For the first stimulus check, each person could get up to $1,200, and married couples could get up to $2,400. Each qualified child under 17 could also get $500. People could get up to $600 from the second check, married couples could get up to $1,200, and children under 17 could get up to $600.
The third check was for $1,400 for each qualified person. Married couples filing jointly got an extra $1,400 for each qualifying dependent.
The due dates for these payments have passed. The last day to get the third check was April 15, 2025. After that date, you had to wait three years to get any tax returns, or in this case, the $1,400 Recovery Rebate Credit for 2021.
If you need to make up for missing stimulus payments or claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your tax return, you should talk to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or a respected tax professional.
You had to file your 2021 tax return by April 15, 2025, even if you got a tax extension. This is so you could get that third stimulus check. There are no extensions or appeals for people who miss deadlines, and any stimulus funds that aren’t claimed go back to the U.S. Treasury.
Is a fourth stimulus check on the way?
Even though social media and unreliable sources have been spreading rumors about a $2,000 or $5,000 “fourth stimulus check,” neither new law nor an official IRS announcement have confirmed that the government will be sending more money. Such reports could be based on false information or fraud.
What happened to the $5,000 DOGE stimulus check?
During a summit in Miami in February, President Trump said that he was thinking about a plan to give Americans $5,000 stimulus checks in the form of a “DOGE dividend.” He said that Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) would use some of the 20% of savings it found and give it back to taxpayers. The idea is still just a guess, since no plans or laws have been made public since then.
Where’s my refund? How to check your tax return status
See where your tax return stands is a simple process.
The “Where’s My Refund?” tool on IRS.gov lets people who have already filed their taxes check on the progress of their refund. In order to see the state, you need to enter the following:
- Your SSN or ITIN, which stands for individual taxpayer identification number
- Your progress with filing
- The exact amount you’ll get back on your return
After you enter the information, you will see one of these:
- Return Received: Your tax return was sent to the IRS, and they are now handling it.
- Return Approved: Your return has been approved by the IRS, and it will be sent to you by the date shown.
- Refund Sent: The IRS has mailed or sent the refund to your bank account. It could be five days before it shows up in your bank account or a few weeks before you get your cash.
How long will it take for my refund to be deposited?
How you filed your tax return will determine when you get your reward.
Your tax return is processed much faster if you file it online than if you file it on paper and wait for a check. The IRS says that most returns are sent out in less than three weeks.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tells people not to count on getting their refund by a certain date, especially when they are paying bills or making big purchases. Some results might need to be looked at more closely, which could take more time.
When will I get my refund?
There are several reasons a tax return might be late. According to the IRS, these are the most common reasons:
- The return is wrong, missing information, or has been hacked or stolen.
- The amount of the child tax credit or recovery refund credit needs to be fixed on the return.
- Someone has asked for an earned income tax credit, an extra child tax credit, or a Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation PDF, to be added to the form.
- Your bank or credit union needs this amount of time to post the return to your account.
Can I still file taxes past the due date?
You can file after the due date. Know this:
- Even if the due date was April 15, 2025, you can still file late.
- If you asked for more time, the last day to file your federal income tax return is October 15, 2025.
- If you didn’t file or ask for more time, you should do so as soon as possible to avoid fines and interest.
