$1,400 Fourth Stimulus Check Update: Will There Be a 4th Payment in 2025?

For the past few weeks, a new discussion has been going on in the US—is the fourth stimulus check coming? Many people are hoping that former President Donald Trump may announce a new relief amount soon. This hope has increased enthusiasm among families who are constantly facing inflation and economic pressure.

However, if we look at the stimulus payments of the past years, it is important to understand their entire timeline and current status.

Timeline and amount of the last three stimulus payments

The US government issued stimulus checks thrice during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide financial help to the common citizens. The first stimulus payment was given in March and April 2020. The second payment was issued till January 15, 2021 and the third payment was given between March and December 2021.

Now the last date to claim these three payments has expired. For those who have not yet claimed these payments, the amount of their check has now become the property of the US Treasury. Neither any extension was given nor the opportunity to appeal.

How much money was received in each stimulus check?

1. First stimulus payment:

• $1,200 per person
• $2,400 per married couple
• $500 per eligible child (under the age of 17)

2. Second stimulus payment:

• $600 per person
• $1,200 per married couple
• $600 per eligible child

3. Third stimulus payment (Recovery Rebate Credit 2021):

• $1,400 per eligible person
• $1,400 per dependent (if filing taxes jointly)

These three payments were sent directly to people’s bank accounts or delivered via physical check. For many citizens, these payments proved to be a big relief in times of crisis.

Is there still hope for a tax refund?

If you filed your taxes on time and your filing was accepted by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), you may soon see the status of “Refund Sent.”

It does not take long for those who file electronically to get a refund. Usually the money arrives via direct deposit within 21 days. On the other hand, if you filed via paper, it may take 6 to 8 weeks.

How to check refund status on IRS?

The IRS has created an online tool called “Where’s My Refund?” This is a great system through which you can check your refund status yourself.

For this you need:

• Your Social Security Number
• Your filing status (eg Single, married, etc.)
• And the amount of refund

Once you have done e-filing, you can check the status within 24 hours. You can get the following three statuses:

• Return received—your filing is being processed.
• Refund approved—refund has been approved and will be issued soon.
• Refund sent—money has been sent to the bank or is being sent by mail.

Can the fourth stimulus check come?

In February this year, Donald Trump indicated that if the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE) meets the target of cutting government expenditure by 20%, then a fourth stimulus check of $5,000 could be issued.

As soon as this news came, a wave of hope ran among many citizens. But, since then, there has been no official update from the government.

And now, the news of Elon Musk’s exit from DOGE and the department’s inability to meet its targets has weakened this proposal even more. So it would not be wrong to say that the chances of a fourth stimulus check are very low at the moment.

When will tax return filers get their third payment?

Citizens who had filed their taxes electronically by April 15 and have also been accepted by the IRS can receive the amount of their third stimulus check:

• By direct deposit by May 6
• Or by physical mail by June 16.

These dates apply exclusively to those citizens whose filing process has been completed without any error.

Conclusion: Hope remains, but the ground is far from reality.

Even though the discussions about the fourth stimulus check are intensifying, the reality is that there has been no official announcement or any guarantee so far. The relief amount received in previous years had given financial support to millions of Americans, but now the time limit for these payments has also expired.

Trump’s plan and Elon Musk’s name were linked, but given the current circumstances, a new check seems far-fetched at the moment. In such a situation, citizens should file their taxes on time, keep an eye on IRS updates and carry forward their financial planning with stability.

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