Stimulus check rumors swirl — here’s what the IRS says and how to check your refund status

Tax season has started fast in the U.S., so many people are asking about 2025 tax returns, refunds, and possible new stimulus checks. Many rumors online are talking about a new 2026 stimulus check, which is why confusion is spreading among taxpayers. Donald Trump has said he wants to give “dividend checks” to people with moderate income sometime in 2026. But right now, there is NO official approval from Congress or the Internal Revenue Service for any fourth stimulus check.

Earlier, the U.S. had already given three stimulus checks during the COVID period, and the last deadline to claim them ended on April 15, 2025. This means people can no longer claim any of those old three stimulus payments now. Experts say many social media posts about a new stimulus are not confirmed and could be false news or scams, as per Delaware Online.

Stimulus check rumors

Trump also talked about giving a $2,000 “tariff dividend” payment to middle- and lower-income people. But this payment still has no official proposal or approval, so it is not guaranteed. The plan also depends on a coming decision from the Supreme Court of the United States about whether the tariffs are legal. Now about tax refunds — if you filed taxes online and added bank details, you may get your refund within about 21 days.


If you did not give bank details, you may get a paper check by mail in 6–8 weeks. Just sending your tax return does not mean it is accepted — the IRS must first approve it. You can confirm approval when you see “Refund Sent” in your online tax status, as stated by Delaware Online. After approval, direct-deposit refunds may arrive in your bank account within a few days.

Check refund online

The IRS has an online tool called “Where’s My Refund” to track refund status. You can check your refund status 24 hours after e-filing, and updates happen once daily overnight. To use the tool, you must enter your Social Security number, filing status, and exact refund amount. The tool shows three stages: return received, refund approved, or refund sent.

Another way to check your refund status is to call the IRS refund hotline. For state tax refunds, most states also have their own online tracking portals. Right now, there is NO confirmed new stimulus check, as noted by Delaware Online. Trump has ideas, but nothing is approved yet. People should be careful of rumors and instead track their real tax refunds using official IRS tools.

FAQs

Q1. Is there a new stimulus check coming in 2026?

No, there is no official approval yet from the government or the Internal Revenue Service for any new stimulus check.

Q2. How can I check my tax refund status?

You can track it online using the IRS “Where’s My Refund” tool or by calling the IRS refund phone line.