Confusing headlines and viral posts have sparked a wave of misinformation about new payments supposedly coming from the federal government. Here’s a fast, clear breakdown of what’s true, what’s misleading, and what’s still just a political idea.
December 2025 Stimulus Check
Claim: A brand-new federal stimulus payment is scheduled for December 2025.
Verdict: ❌ False.
There is no federal stimulus program approved by Congress for December 2025. Nothing similar to the COVID-era checks is active or authorized.
So why the confusion? Three things are being mistaken for a “new stimulus”:
- Regular tax refunds — These happen every year after people file taxes. Not stimulus.
- Unclaimed past credits — The IRS has been finishing payments for people who never claimed earlier credits, like the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit. These are late payments, not new ones.
- State-level relief — Some states offer their own rebates or refunds. These apply only within those states and are not federal stimulus checks.
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