As of November 2025, there are no new IRS‑approved federal stimulus payments on the way, and tariff‑funded “dividend” checks promoted by President Donald Trump remain only a proposal. Understanding what is real, what is on the table, and what is pure rumor is essential to protect your finances and avoid scams.
What the IRS has actually confirmed
The IRS has explicitly stated that no new federal “relief” or stimulus payments are being sent for the remainder of 2025 and that none are planned yet for 2026. The agency and Treasury Department emphasize that the last round of federal Economic Impact Payments tied to the Recovery Rebate Credit ended with the 2021 tax year, and the final deadline to claim those credits was April 15, 2025.
Recent IRS‑related alerts warn taxpayers that social media posts promising “November stimulus checks,” “inflation relief deposits,” or surprise IRS direct deposits are false. These messages often recycle old language from prior stimulus rounds or state rebate programs, but at the federal level there are currently no newly authorized payments, and the IRS is not sending extra money just because it is the holiday season.
The truth about November 2025 “relief payments”
In November 2025, headlines about supposed IRS relief payments and $1,390–$2,000 “holiday checks” have again gone viral. Fact‑checkers and local news outlets that contacted the IRS report the same answer: the federal government is not issuing new stimulus checks this month, and any automatic direct deposit you see should be tied to a regular tax refund, Social Security, or a state or local program, not a new nationwide stimulus.
Some states and cities are running their own relief or refund programs—for example, New York’s 2025 sales‑tax refund and other state credits—that may look like federal checks when they arrive. However, these are separate state initiatives with their own eligibility rules and are not the same as a new IRS stimulus.
Trump’s tariff dividend proposal: what it is and isn’t
President Donald Trump has proposed a new type of relief payment: “tariff dividends” or tariff rebate checks. The idea is to use money collected from his tariffs on imported goods to send checks of about $1,000–$2,000 per person, with his most recent statements promising “at least $2,000” for low‑ and middle‑income Americans while excluding high‑income households.
White House and Treasury officials have confirmed that this concept is under discussion, but they also say clearly that legislation is needed before any checks can be sent. Estimates from budget experts suggest the cost of broad $2,000 payments could run to $300–600 billion, which is far more than current net tariff revenue, raising serious questions about funding and feasibility.
Why no tariff dividend checks exist yet
At this point, no tariff dividend law has passed Congress, and the IRS has not been instructed to administer such payments. Reporters note that Trump’s team is exploring options, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other officials have said the administration “needs legislation” for any national dividend and that details like income cutoffs, amounts, and delivery method are still unsettled.
Legal and economic hurdles are significant. The Supreme Court is reviewing whether Trump exceeded his authority in imposing some tariffs, which could even force refunds of past duties to importers rather than funding new checks. Analysts also warn that promising more in dividends than tariffs bring in would either increase federal debt or require cuts elsewhere—another reason markets and prediction sites assign a low probability to checks arriving soon.
Federal versus state payments: reading the fine print
It is easy to confuse different types of payments, especially when online headlines lump them together as “stimulus.” Today’s landscape includes:
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No new federal IRS stimulus checks authorized for 2025 or 2026
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State and local relief (like targeted tax refunds or energy rebates) that may be mailed or directly deposited
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Ongoing federal tax refunds and credits processed as part of normal filing
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Proposed but not enacted federal ideas such as tariff dividends or new worker rebates
Many articles that mention “IRS checks in November” are actually summarizing all of these at once, leading readers to believe something nationwide has been approved when it has not. The IRS itself stresses that any true federal payment program will be clearly announced on IRS.gov and through official press releases, not only via viral videos or forwarded messages.
Key facts behind the rumors and the reality
To cut through the noise, it helps to line up what is confirmed versus what is just talk.
| Topic | What’s confirmed as of Nov. 2025 | What’s only proposed or rumored |
|---|---|---|
| New federal IRS stimulus checks | None authorized for late 2025 or 2026; Recovery Rebate Credit expired April 15, 2025 | Viral posts about “November stimulus,” “holiday bonus checks,” etc. |
| Tariff dividend / $2,000 checks | Trump has publicly proposed $1,000–$2,000 tariff‑funded payments | No law passed; funding and legal authority still uncertain |
| State and local relief payments | Several states have issued tax refunds or targeted rebates in 2025 | Sometimes misrepresented online as new IRS stimulus checks |
For your personal finances, that means any unexpected deposit should be checked against state programs, prior tax filings, or Social Security schedules rather than assumed to be a new federal stimulus.
How to stay safe from stimulus and tariff‑dividend scams
Scammers are using the buzz around possible stimulus and tariff dividends to trick people into revealing bank details or paying bogus “processing fees.” The IRS, Treasury, and consumer‑protection agencies all highlight a few simple rules: the government does not text or DM you to sign you up for payments, does not charge application fees, and will not ask for passwords or one‑time codes to release money.
If you see a message claiming the IRS has “selected you for a November 2025 deposit” or that you must click a link to claim a tariff dividend, treat it as a red flag. Instead, go directly to IRS.gov or your state tax website, or rely on well‑known news organizations that quote official sources. Until Congress passes a new law and the IRS publishes clear guidance, the safest assumption is that there are no new federal relief or tariff‑dividend payments to budget around.
FAQs
Q1 Is the IRS sending any new stimulus or relief payments in November 2025?
No, the IRS and Treasury say there are no new federal stimulus payments for late 2025, and the last chance to claim prior stimulus credits ended in April 2025.
Q2 What is Trump’s tariff dividend, and is it real money yet?
It is a proposal to send $1,000–$2,000 checks funded by tariff revenue, but it has not been approved by Congress, and no checks are being issued today.
Q3 How can I check if a payment I receive is legitimate?
Confirm it directly through IRS.gov or your state tax agency, review your recent tax and benefit notices, and ignore unsolicited texts, emails, or links that ask for personal or banking information.
