Is there a stimulus check coming in October? Inside claims of $2,000 paycheck
Social media posts promoting an IRS stimulus payment for October have been circulating online; however, these rumors are false. The IRS warns against phishing scams in relation to misinformation on social media.
There have been rumors circulating online that an IRS direct deposit stimulus payment would be distributed into bank accounts in October or before the end of the year.
However, all this talk about stimulus checks have been just that: rumors. There are no new federal stimulus payments planned for the rest of 2025. These rumors can have harmful repercussions if they are used as phishing scams against taxpayers.
The most recent opportunity for a stimulus check was for the $1,400 Recovery Rebate Credit from 2021, which was aimed at providing Americans with financial relief from the pandemic. The last day to claim this payment was April 15, 2025. It also might not be too late to claim a staggering $2,400 stimulus check this year - and we revealed everything you need to know.
Social media posts have gone viral this month, stating that a $1,702 stimulus payment was on its way to Americans' bank accounts. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
The posts confused a stimulus payment for Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend, which is a yearly payment of $1,702 delivered to eligible residents by the state minerals revenue.
The IRS warns Americans to watch out for misleading information and scams, such as this fake stimulus check scenario. Scammers have attempted to phish people about the pandemic-era stimulus payment.
The IRS warns to report suspicious IRS, Treasury, and tax-related emails, texts, social media accounts, phone calls, and letters. You can report scams here. Fake information about stimulus checks can lead to people being tricked into sharing personal information online.
Common scam tactics to look out for
IRS officials warn that con artists performing tax schemes and scams have been on the rise.
These are the most common scams to be vigilant about:
- The IRS will never send direct messages via social media
- Scammers tend to misuse the term “stimulus check” instead of using the official term “economic impact payment.”
- Con artists will ask people to sign over their checks, banking information, and other personal information.
- The IRS will never send text messages without your permission. Scammers will send fake messages in an attempt to get personal information.
- Scammers will promise fast payments or a refund if given permission to act on the taxpayer’s behalf. The IRS will never call to demand payments, threaten arrest, or inform you of a refund.
The IRS released its annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams for 2025. This campaign cautions taxpayers about tax-related identity theft.
One of the main concerns of 2025 was “bad social media advice.” These scams involve people sharing incorrect tax information on social media that can mislead people into sharing personal information and potentially leading to identity theft.
“Social media platforms routinely circulate inaccurate or misleading tax information, including on TikTok where people share wildly inaccurate tax advice,” stated on its website.
It’s important to proceed with caution when rumors and unconfirmed information are spread on social media because it could lead to the theft of personal information. The IRS urges Americans to follow only advice from the IRS, tax professionals, and other reputable sources.