In August 2025, widespread posts on social media began circulating claims that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was preparing to issue new $1,390 tax refund checks to millions of Americans. The content appeared across high-engagement platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, drawing attention through vague references to federal programs.
Reporting from Futbolete noted that some of these messages used graphics resembling official IRS materials. No official statement from the IRS has addressed these specific claims. The available information remains limited at this stage. The reference date used for reviewing these developments is August 26, 2025, when this article was compiled.
What the Rumors Are Claiming
The viral posts, which began appearing in mid-August 2025, suggest that a new economic relief program has been authorized, providing $1,390 in payments to low- and middle-income taxpayers. Some posts even included official IRS logos and sensationalist headlines to enhance credibility. These tactics helped the claims gain rapid traction on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
The $1,390 figure does not correspond to any previous federal stimulus amount. For reference, earlier checks were $1,200, $600, and $1,400. Some analyses suggest the number may result from a distortion or conflation of past state aid programs, misrepresented as a current federal initiative. The true origin of the figure remains undetermined.
No Fourth Round of Economic Impact Payments
There is currently no legislation passed by Congress authorizing a fourth round of economic impact payments. The last round of stimulus checks was issued in 2021, under laws enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of now, the IRS is focused on standard operations, including processing tax returns and administering existing tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). According to the agency,
IRS operations for the current fiscal year are focused on administering regular tax credits and processing tax returns.
Any remaining payments from previous programs can only be claimed via filing a tax return, and no new automatic payments are being issued.
Fact-Checkers Confirm the Claims Are False
Media outlets and independent verifiers have classified the circulating claims as false. A report from Fox News stated:
The $1,390 checks are not in the works, despite viral rumors.
Similarly, The Washington Post noted that:
No new stimulus checks will be issued, and the rumors circulating online are unfounded.
The IRS itself has also taken steps to warn the public. Its “Economic Impact Payments” section on irs.gov includes only historical information for 2020 and 2021, with no indication of a 2025 program.
How the Rumor Spread Online
Digital researchers traced the emergence of the claim to mid-August 2025, primarily through social media algorithms. Posts used high-engagement tactics—memes, misleading infographics, and phrases like “automatic refund”—to attract attention.
Some versions of the posts featured fake IRS documents or logos to add a layer of false legitimacy, a technique frequently used in financial scams.
Past Warnings and Official Guidance
The IRS has previously issued alerts warning taxpayers to beware of fake payment scams, including those spread via text message, email, or social media. These scams often exploit moments of economic uncertainty by mimicking government communications.
The agency recommends confirming any payment-related news solely via its official website, irs.gov. Using non-official sources or links increases the risk of falling for phishing attacks or social engineering schemes.
