If you’re wondering whether an August 2025 stimulus check or some kind of rebate is actually coming, the short answer is – nothing official yet.
There’s been plenty of buzz since July 25, when President Donald Trump hinted at sending taxpayers a rebate from the revenue generated by new tariffs. His exact words: “We have so much money coming in, we’re thinking about a little rebate. But the big thing we want to do is pay down debt.” That remark lit up speculation, but no formal bill has passed.
Not long after Trump’s comments, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley introduced the American Worker Rebate Act of 2025, designed to send checks to Americans. However, it’s still in the early stages and there’s no guarantee it will move forward in time for an August payout. Online rumors of a $2,000 “fourth stimulus check” are circulating, but both Congress and the IRS have made no announcements to back it up. If you see posts promising exact amounts or links to “claim now,” be wary – misinformation and scams are on the rise.
To recap, the original pandemic-era payments are long done. The first stimulus in 2020 offered up to $1,200 for individuals and $500 per qualifying child. The second in 2021 gave $600 per person, and the third in 2021 provided $1,400 per eligible adult plus dependents. The deadline to file for that third payment – the $1,400 Recovery Rebate Credit – was April 15, 2025. Even if you had a tax extension, you still had to meet that date. Missed it? There are no appeals, and the unclaimed money goes back to the U.S. Treasury.
Trump has also floated a separate idea – a $5,000 “DOGE dividend” – using savings found by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. He mentioned it in February at a Miami summit, but hasn’t given any concrete plan or timeline since.
On the state side, some inflation relief checks are real. New York has sent one-time payments to qualifying residents based on income – $200 for individuals earning up to $75,000, and $400 for married couples earning up to $150,000. Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Colorado have also issued their own inflation or rebate checks, though eligibility and amounts differ.
If you’re waiting on a federal tax refund rather than a stimulus, the IRS says most electronic filers with direct deposit details get their refund within 21 days after acceptance. Paper checks can take six to eight weeks. Keep in mind that filing and acceptance are not the same – only when your return is accepted will your refund clock start.
You can track it online using the IRS “Where’s My Refund” tool, available 24 hours after you e-file. You’ll need your Social Security number, filing status, and exact refund amount. The tool updates once daily overnight, showing one of three statuses: return received, refund approved, or refund sent. Once you see “refund approved,” your money could hit your bank in days if you chose direct deposit.
State refunds have their own systems. For example, Delaware’s Division of Taxation has an online tracker for state returns, and most states have something similar on their tax websites.
For now, any August 2025 stimulus check is still speculation. Until there’s a signed law and an official IRS or state announcement, the safest way to stay updated is through government channels – and to treat anything else as rumor.
Leo Cruz brings sharp insights into the world of politics, offering balanced reporting and analysis on the latest policies, elections, and global political events. With years of experience covering campaigns and interviewing world leaders, Leo ensures readers are always informed and engaged.
