Stimulus payment December 2025, IRS direct deposit relief payment & tariff dividend fact check -

WASHINGTON — Don’t start spending that “new stimulus money” yet.
Social media has exploded in recent days with claims of fresh federal payments coming before the end of December—but according to federal agencies and congressional staff, no such stimulus program has been approved, authorized, or scheduled.

Here is the full breakdown of what’s fact, what’s rumor, and what still remains uncertain.

Are New Federal Stimulus Payments Coming in December 2025?

Short answer: No.

What the government confirms:

The last official federal stimulus program was issued in 2021.
Any future payments require new congressional legislation, which has not happened.

What did happen recently?

In 2024, the IRS issued automatic catch-up payments for taxpayers who qualified for the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit but never claimed it.
These payments:

Were capped at $1,400 per person
Were issued between December 2024 – January 2025
Required no action from taxpayers
Were distributed via direct deposit and paper checks

The final deadline to claim the credit was April 15, 2025, and no extensions were allowed.

That program is now fully concluded.

Trump’s Proposed $2,000 Tariff Dividend — What We Actually Know

During a December 2 cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump revived an idea he first posted on Truth Social: a tariff-funded “dividend” payment to Americans.

He claimed:

“Next year is projected to be the largest tax refund season ever… we’re going to be giving a nice dividend to the people out of the tariffs.”

Trump argued that the U.S. is collecting “trillions” in tariff revenue, enough to:

Provide refund-style dividend checks
Reduce portions of the national debt
Offer at least $2,000 per person, excluding high-income households

However…

Budget analysts say the math doesn’t support the claim.

According to the Tax Foundation, represented by Erica York:

“The numbers just don’t check out.”

Economists note that tariff revenue is far smaller than Trump suggests and nowhere near high enough to fund $2,000 payments nationwide.

Treasury’s Reaction

Even Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared surprised.

On ABC’s This Week, he said:

He had not discussed the dividend with Trump
The proposal may not involve direct checks
It could instead become some form of tax reduction
If it does happen, it may apply to individuals or families earning $100,000 or less

White House Messaging

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the administration is “committed” to exploring the dividend concept, but offered no confirmation of timing, eligibility, or distribution method.

NOTUS reporter Violet Jira summarized the situation:

“We’re getting more details about the idea, but whether it actually happens is difficult to tell.”

Stimulus Scam Alerts: The IRS Issues New Warnings

With viral rumors spreading online, the IRS is again warning taxpayers about fraudulent stimulus messages.

The IRS does not:

Email you stimulus alerts
Text you payment notices
Contact you through social media
Send threatening robocalls
Ask for bank details to “release your payment”

The IRS does:

Initiate contact through official letters
Use verifiable Taxpayer Authentication Numbers
Allow secure communication via IRS Online Accounts
Limit in-person visits for safety reasons

Many viral claims—such as $1,702 or $1,390 “new stimulus checks”—trace back to:

State programs like the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend
Misleading social media posts
Phishing attempts to steal SSNs and bank info

Supreme Court Reviews Trump Tariff Legality

In a separate but related development, the Supreme Court heard arguments challenging the global tariffs implemented under Trump. These tariffs—some exceeding 100%—affect consumer prices from electronics to clothing.

Justices appeared skeptical of the administration’s authority to impose sweeping tariffs without congressional approval.

FOX 5’s Katie Barlow explained how the ruling could impact:

Imports
Consumer costs
Future refund or dividend proposals tied to tariff revenue

Bottom Line

No new December 2025 stimulus checks have been approved.
IRS relief payments ended earlier this year.
Trump’s tariff dividend remains a proposal, not a program.
Scammers are exploiting confusion—stay alert.

Until Congress passes new legislation or the IRS issues a formal announcement, any claim of an imminent federal stimulus payment should be treated with skepticism.