Stimulus checks from the federal government are essentially a thing of the past (those ended a couple of years ago). However, you may have heard recently that the IRS is sending unclaimed "stimulus payments" to one million taxpayers.
And, several states have stepped in to provide financial relief to their residents through tax rebates and inflation relief payments.
In the past couple of years, many states distributed one-time payments to qualifying residents, and some continue to offer rebates and "stimulus" payments.
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Here's more of what you need to know.
IRS Payments
IRS stimulus checks 2025?
The IRS is wrapping up its distribution of $1,400 stimulus payments for unclaimed 2021 credits by automatically issuing up to $1,400 per taxpayer to approximately 1 million people.
Those individuals missed claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns.
- These payments, totaling $2.4 billion, target individuals who left the credit field blank or entered $0 despite being eligible for pandemic-era stimulus funds.
- The IRS identified these cases through internal reviews and began sending payments in late 2024, with direct deposits or checks based on 2023 filing information.
- Those who haven’t filed a 2021 return must do so by April 15, 2025, to claim their payment, even if they had little or no income that year.
Eligibility hinges on 2021 qualifications under the American Rescue Plan, which provided $1,400 per person (plus $1,400 per dependent) to individuals earning under $75,000 (single) or $150,000 (joint filers).
Taxpayers must have a valid Social Security number and not be claimed as dependents. The IRS is sending letters to notify recipients.
This marks the end of pandemic-era direct relief, with no new federal stimulus checks on the horizon.
For more information on those payments, see Kiplinger's report IRS Sending Up to $1,400 to One Million People: Are You Eligible?
DOGE
What about DOGE stimulus checks?
The so-called “DOGE stimulus check" is a proposed government payment to taxpayers to distribute "savings" from the Trump administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Initially touted as a $5,000 payment, this idea has garnered significant attention but remains speculative.
The proposal suggests using 20% of DOGE's savings for these checks, but actual reductions are far below the $2 trillion needed to fund such payments. As of March 2025, DOGE claims about $130 billion in what it describes as savings, translating to roughly $807 per taxpayer if distributed.
However, economists warn that with a massive deficit, the Treasury still needs to borrow to distribute any “savings.” Also, Congress must approve any proposal, which is uncertain due to concerns about inflation and national debt.
The funding reality is that any purported current savings are insufficient to support the proposed $5,000 checks, making this initiative unlikely to happen.
So, for now, the DOGE stimulus check remains a political concept rather than a confirmed relief program.
State Tax Rebates
Special state payments in 2025
Getting back to this year's special state payments, the eligibility criteria, payment amounts, and delivery timelines differ from state to state.
Here's a breakdown of some states issuing rebate payments and “stimulus checks.”
California
If you're in California, you might be familiar with the Sacramento Family First program.
This initiative provides $725 monthly payments to 200 low-income families until November 2025. It's a small pilot that could shape future universal basic income models.
On the other hand, California's Middle Class Tax Refunds (MCTR), which offered payments ranging from $200 to $1,050, has concluded. The California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) said the program benefited nearly 32 million California taxpayers and their dependents.
You generally should have received your California MCTR payment from October of last year to mid-January of 2023 (generally via direct deposit or MCTR debit card). The majority of the California payments should have been received by eligible residents by mid-February last year.
However, despite distributing more than 9.5 million debit cards to eligible Californians, millions of dollars in benefits remain unspent. As a result, the California FTB has urged residents to activate their MCTR debit cards.
For more information see Many California Inflation Relief Debit Cards Haven't Been Activated.
Colorado TABOR Refunds
Colorado TABOR refunds (also known as "Cash Back" payments) are being sent to eligible Coloradans (age and residency rules apply) who filed a Colorado income tax return for a specified year or applied for a Colorado property tax/rent/heat credit (PTC) rebate. The amount depends on the filing status on your applicable Colorado state tax return.
TABOR payments are based on whether the state exceeds a certain surplus revenue threshold.
For Colorado taxes in general, see Kiplinger's Colorado Tax Guide.
NEW! As Kiplinger has reported, Coloradans are getting a present again in the New Year: TABOR refunds worth $1.7 billion.
This year’s TABOR refund is significantly lower than the prior year’s, which was $3.28 billion. However, Centennial State residents can still expect to receive anywhere from $177 to $1,130 per taxpayer, depending on income and filing status.
For more information, see Colorado Residents to Receive Billions in TABOR Refunds.
Future outlook: Due to potential legislative changes, TABOR refunds are projected to drop sharply — 2026 payments could fall to $41-$137 per filer, with minimal increases expected through 2028. The state income tax rate also decreased to 4.25% for 2024 filings.
Florida Property Tax Rebate
Florida is considering a significant property tax relief proposal. If approved, homeowners could receive $1,000 rebates on school levies, benefiting about 5.1 million households.
Note: This plan is still in the legislative pipeline, so it's uncertain.
However, critics argue it might not help renters or those without property, but advocates, including Gov. Ron DeSantis see it as a big win for homeowners if passed.
Stay tuned for more from Kiplinger on this developing story.
Georgia Tax Rebates
Georgia tax rebates of up to $500 were offered last year due to legislation known as House Bill 162. The bill provided a one-time tax credit (i.e., surplus tax refund) for individual Georgia taxpayers who filed state income tax returns for the 2021 and 2022 tax years.
The exact amount of your Georgia surplus tax refund for 2023 was based on your tax liability from the applicable tax year.
Georgia will again issue $250-$500 tax rebates in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of direct relief. The state legislature approved House Bill 112, which offers $250 for single filers, $375 for heads of households, and $500 for married couples.
Gov. Brian Kemp supports the measure, citing Georgia's $11 billion surplus as the funding source. The rebates are part of a broader tax-cutting agenda, including a reduction in the income tax rate to 5.19% for 2025, down from 5.39%.
Critics argue that the benefits skew toward wealthier taxpayers, potentially reducing funding for essential services. Despite this, the rebates are expected to be automatically processed without requiring additional taxpayer action, provided they filed returns for 2023 and 2024.
For more information on the rebates, see: Georgia Surplus Tax Refunds for 2025.
Related: Georgia Has a New Income Tax Rate
Massachusetts 62F Refunds
The Massachusetts 62F tax refund program from two years ago, which returned about 14% of 2021 state income tax liability to eligible taxpayers, has ended. So far, no new 62F refunds have been announced.
The 62F refund program differs from other states' “stimulus” programs because each eligible Massachusetts taxpayer received a different amount of money in their tax refund check. The refunds could be reduced if you have an unpaid tax liability, unpaid child support, or certain other debts.
Note: Most of the Massachusetts refunds have already been distributed.
However, the Commonwealth offers up to $7,500 for electric trucks and $3,500 for passenger EVs, with additional rebates for low-income residents buying used models.
For more information on Massachusetts taxes in general, see our Massachusetts Tax Guide.
Related: 62F Massachusetts Tax Refunds
Michigan Working Famlies Tax Credit
Michigan tax credit checks have been sent to more than 700,000 families since the state’s expanded working families tax credit became effective in February 2024. The rebate checks are based on previous state tax returns and differ from any Michigan state tax refund eligible residents receive for the 2023 tax year.
As Kiplinger reported, state officials expected the process to take up to six weeks. That meant some eligible taxpayers might not have received a check until the end of March 2024.
- The payments are due to an expansion of Michigan's earned income tax credit (Earned Income Tax Credit for Working Families, also called the Working Families Tax Credit) and were expected to average $550 per family.
- However, some families received less or more, and some were not eligible for a payment.
- To qualify, individuals must have earned income, meet federal EITC eligibility criteria, and file both federal and state tax returns.
The process is now streamlined: when filing taxes in 2025, the Michigan EITC will be automatically calculated and included in the regular refund.
State officials say the credit has already made a tangible impact, with over 653,000 recipients benefiting in the past year, averaging $836 each.
For more information, see: Michigan Tax Credit Checks
New Jersey
New Jersey's ANCHOR Program is getting a revamp. The new PAS-1 application combines ANCHOR, Senior Freeze, and StayNJ benefits into one form, making it easier for eligible residents to claim up to $6,500 in combined relief.
Related: What's Going on With New Jersey Property Tax Relief Programs?
Applications start in March 2025, with payments beginning as early as July. This streamlined process aims to reduce paperwork and ensure more residents receive their benefits.
New York Tax Relief
New York's School Tax Relief Program (STAR) is in progress. Under this property tax relief program, some eligible homeowners can expect to receive hundreds of dollars in relief.
- As Kiplinger reported, STAR is essentially two programs rolled into one: Basic STAR and Enhanced STAR (E-STAR). Both provide school district property tax relief but with different eligibility requirements.
- New York state officials estimate the tax reduction per household will be about $290 for Basic STAR and $650 for E-STAR.
- It's important to note that STAR and E-STAR program relief comes in the form of a tax exemption or tax credit.
For more information, see New York Sending School Tax Relief Checks.
Additionally, New York is reportedly proposing inflation relief checks worth $300 to $500 for individuals and families earning under $150,000 and $300,000, respectively.
The plan is pending budget approval in April 2025. If passed, it would help millions of residents combat rising costs. However, some critics argue it excludes undocumented taxpayers, which could be a point of contention.
Pennsylvania Rebate
To be eligible for a payment under the recently expanded Pennsylvania's "Property Tax/Rent Rebate" program, you must be at least 65 years old, a widow(er) at least 50 years old, or a person with disabilities at least 18 years old. There's also an annual income limit: $45,000 for homeowners and $45,000 for renters (50% of your Social Security benefits are excluded).
The standard Pennsylvania rebate amount depends on your income and whether you own or rent your home. For eligible homeowners and some exceptions for older adults over 65 who might receive a higher amount, the rebate amount can generally be up to $1,000.
- According to the program website, "Applications for 2023 Property Tax/Rent Rebates were due by December 31, 2024.
- Under Pennsylvania law, the Department of Revenue evaluates the program before the June 30 deadline every year.
- If extra funds are available, the deadline is extended to December 31. Applications postmarked by that date will be accepted for processing."
To date, funding has been available to allow all who qualify to benefit from the program.
For additional information on Pennsylvania taxes, see our Pennsylvania Tax Guide.
Related: Pennsylvania Rebate Checks: What You Need to Know
Virginia Tax Rebate
Some Virginians received 2023 tax rebates due to a massive surplus in the Commonwealth. Those Virginia tax rebate payments were up to $400 for eligible joint filers and $200 for eligible single filers. The program has concluded.
Related: Virginia Tax Rebates 2023: What You Need to Know
Virginia is at a crossroads with its rebate plans in 2025. Democratic lawmakers propose $200 to $400 payments for all 2024 filers, while Governor Youngkin advocates for a $1.1 billion car tax credit targeting lower-income households.
The debate centers on whether to provide universal relief or focus on those most need it.
For more information on Virginia taxes, see Kiplinger's Virginia Tax Guide.
Related: Virginia Tax Rebate Checks
Related
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- Retirement Taxes: How All 50 States Tax Retirees
- The IRS is Sending Up to $1,400 to One Million People: Are You Eligible?
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