No December 2025 Stimulus Checks: What You Need to Know
Over the past week, social media has been flooded with cryptic posts claiming that a new federal stimulus payment is set to arrive before the end of December. Screenshots of supposed deposit notifications, official-looking letters, and even stamped “government seals” have circulated widely.
But careful inspection reveals inconsistencies: mismatched fonts, incorrect Treasury logos, and reused tracking codes from past scams. Investigators warn this may be a coordinated misinformation effort.
The Facts About Stimulus Payments
Contrary to viral claims, no new federal stimulus package has been passed, proposed, or authorized.
Last official payments: The most recent nationwide stimulus initiative was in 2021.
Legislative requirement: Any new direct payments would require Congress to pass new legislation — which has not happened.
So why the confusion?
In late 2024 and early 2025, the IRS distributed automatic “catch-up” payments for individuals who qualified for the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit but had not received it. These payments:
Were capped at $1,400 per eligible individual
Were issued between December 2024 and January 2025
Required no action from taxpayers
Included direct deposits and mailed checks
The deadline to claim the credit ended on April 15, 2025. That process is now officially closed.
Trump’s Tariff Dividend Proposal
During a December 2 cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump revisited a concept he previously floated on Truth Social: a tariff-funded “dividend” for American households. He suggested that tariff revenue could:
Fund dividend-style checks
Pay down portions of the national debt
Provide at least $2,000 per eligible adult
Experts, however, are skeptical. Erica York from the Tax Foundation said:
“The numbers simply don’t add up.”
Economists note that tariff revenue is far below the levels needed to fund universal $2,000 payments.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clarified on ABC’s This Week:
He had not reviewed the idea with the president
Direct checks may not be part of the plan
A tax cut is a more likely outcome
Benefits could be limited to households earning under $100,000
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is “looking into” the proposal but gave no specifics about timing, eligibility, or distribution methods.
IRS Scam Warnings
As confusion spreads online, the IRS has renewed warnings about fraudulent claims. They emphasize that the agency will never:
Email, text, or social media stimulus alerts
Make threatening automated calls
Ask for bank information to “process” a payment
The IRS will communicate through official letters, require verifiable Taxpayer Authentication Numbers, and use secure online systems.
Many viral claims of “$1,702” or “$1,390” payments actually stem from:
State programs like the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend
Misinterpreted social media posts
Scams designed to steal banking or Social Security information
The Legal Context
The Supreme Court recently heard challenges to Trump’s global tariff framework, including some tariffs exceeding 100%. Justices expressed doubts about whether such measures could be imposed without congressional approval. The Court’s decision may influence:
Import costs
Consumer prices
Any future rebate or dividend ideas linked to tariff revenue
Bottom Line
Despite viral posts and fake screenshots, there are no federal stimulus payments coming in December 2025. IRS catch-up payments have ended, Trump’s tariff dividend is an undeveloped proposal, and scammers are exploiting public confusion.
Until Congress enacts a new program or the IRS formally announces a payment plan, any claims of imminent federal payouts should be treated with extreme caution.