There is no fourth stimulus check. Congress has not passed any legislation authorizing a new round of federal direct payments since the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which sent up to $1,400 per eligible person.1Congress.gov. H.R.1319 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 No bill is pending to create one, despite recurring social media claims. Several states are sending their own rebate payments in 2026 from budget surpluses, and those programs are the closest thing to a fourth check that actually exists.
Why No Federal Payment Is Coming
The federal government issued three rounds of Economic Impact Payments between 2020 and 2021, totaling roughly $3,200 per qualifying adult before dependent payments.2U.S. Department of the Treasury. Economic Impact Payments Since 2021, federal legislative priorities have shifted toward inflation management, interest rate policy, and national debt. Current budget resolutions include no provisions for broad direct payments.
The IRS has no authority to issue stimulus payments on its own. It needs a specific congressional appropriation to do so. Viral posts claiming a fourth check is “approved” or “on the way” consistently trace back to clickbait headlines or misreadings of state-level programs, not any federal law.
The Recovery Rebate Credit Window Has Closed
If you missed one of the three prior federal payments, you could previously claim the money through the Recovery Rebate Credit on your federal tax return. The deadline to file a 2021 return and claim the third-round credit was April 15, 2025. That window is now closed. There is no mechanism to recover those payments after the filing deadline, and funds that went unclaimed are permanently forfeited.
State Rebate Programs Paying in 2026
Several states are using surplus tax revenue to send money directly to residents. Structures and payment sizes vary.
- Georgia (HB 1000). Governor Kemp signed this surplus tax refund into law on March 20, 2026. Eligible filers receive up to $250 for single filers, $375 for head of household, or $500 for married couples filing jointly. You must have filed your 2024 and 2025 state returns and had a tax liability for 2024. Payments are capped at your actual tax liability, so someone who owed $80 in state tax receives $80 rather than the full amount. The state Department of Revenue began issuing refunds within six to eight weeks of the signing date.3Georgia Department of Revenue. Georgia Surplus Tax Refund
- Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate. This program provides rebates of up to $1,000 on property taxes or rent paid. For 2026, the income limit is $48,110, and applications are due by June 30, 2026. Eligibility is limited to residents age 65 and older, widows and widowers age 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older.4Department of Revenue. Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
- Colorado TABOR refunds. Colorado’s constitution requires the state to refund revenue that exceeds a set cap. These refunds are issued annually and combined with your state tax refund when you file. Recent estimates put 2026 refunds between $41 and $137 per filer, and there is no income restriction.5Department of Revenue – Taxation. Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) Information
- Virginia 2025 Tax Rebate. Virginia authorized rebates of up to $200 for individual filers and $400 for joint filers based on 2024 tax liability. The filing deadline to qualify was November 3, 2025, and payments are still reaching some recipients into early 2026.6Virginia Tax. What You Need to Know About the 2025 Tax Rebate
Other states run similar programs structured as expanded tax credits rather than standalone checks. New Jersey’s combined ANCHOR, Senior Freeze, and StayNJ benefits can reach up to $6,500 for eligible homeowners. New York expanded its Empire State Child Credit to provide up to $1,000 per child under age four. Oregon’s “Kicker” credit returns surplus revenue to taxpayers when state collections exceed forecasts by more than two percent. Each flows through the state tax return rather than arriving as a separate payment.
Programs That Have Already Ended
Old articles about state stimulus payments keep resurfacing in search results. Several highly publicized programs from 2022 and 2023 have finished distributing funds.
California’s Middle Class Tax Refund sent payments of up to $1,050 to eligible taxpayers under Assembly Bill 192. That program is fully disbursed and closed to new claims.7State of California Franchise Tax Board. Help with the Middle Class Tax Refund Colorado’s 2022 “Cash Back” payments were a one-time accelerated TABOR refund authorized by Senate Bill 22-233, separate from the annual TABOR refunds that continue. New Mexico sent multiple rounds of rebates in 2022, including payments of $250 or $500 depending on filing status. Those programs have concluded.
If you come across an article describing one of these as currently available, check the publication date. Most content circulating online about state stimulus checks refers to programs that stopped accepting applications more than a year ago.
How Eligibility and Delivery Work
State programs set their own rules, but eligibility almost always hinges on three things: residency, income, and filing status. Most programs require you to have been a resident during the relevant tax year and to have filed a state return by the standard deadline or extension date.
The biggest mistake people make is missing the filing deadline. These programs typically have firm cutoffs, and late filers are permanently disqualified even if they otherwise meet every requirement. If your state announces a rebate, file as early as you can.
Most rebate programs deliver payments the same way you received your last state tax refund. If you filed electronically with bank account details, expect a direct deposit. If you filed by paper, expect a physical check by mail. States with active programs usually provide an online tracking tool on their Department of Revenue website; you will need your Social Security number, filing status, and expected refund amount to check your status.3Georgia Department of Revenue. Georgia Surplus Tax Refund
Are These Payments Taxable
Federal Economic Impact Payments were structured as advance refundable tax credits and are not taxable income.
State rebates are more complicated. The IRS has said that state payments treated as refunds of your own tax overpayment are generally not taxable on your federal return because they are not new income. If you itemized deductions and claimed a state tax deduction in a prior year, the tax benefit rule can make part of a state refund taxable in the year you receive it. Payments that qualify under the general welfare exclusion because they are based on financial need are not taxable regardless of how you filed.8Internal Revenue Service. Federal Income Tax Consequences of Certain State Payments
If you took the standard deduction on your federal return, most state rebates will not affect your federal taxes. If you itemized and deducted state taxes, ask a tax preparer whether any portion of your rebate is reportable.
Watch for Fourth Stimulus Check Scams
Every time stimulus rumors trend, scammers follow. The most common tactic involves fake texts, emails, or social media messages claiming you need to “apply” for a fourth stimulus check by providing your Social Security number, bank details, or a processing fee. No legitimate government payment requires a fee, and no government agency will text you asking for personal financial information.
Other scams use fake IRS or Treasury emails that direct you to phishing websites designed to look like government portals. The IRS does not initiate contact by email, text, or social media to request personal information. Forward suspicious messages claiming to be from the IRS or Treasury to phishing@irs.gov.9Internal Revenue Service. Report Fake IRS, Treasury or Tax-Related Emails and Messages
If you believe your identity or financial information has been compromised through a tax-related scam, report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at tigta.gov. You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.