No federal stimulus payments are scheduled for May 2025

As of now, there is no announced federal stimulus payment program set to distribute money in May 2025. The most recent federal stimulus payments were issued in 2021 under the American Rescue Plan Act. Any stimulus payment that appears to be coming in May 2025 is either a scam, a state-level program, or a payment from a different source entirely — such as a tax refund, child tax credit advance, or settlement payment.

If you have received a notice claiming you are owed a May 2025 stimulus payment, verify it through official channels before responding. The IRS, Social Security Administration, and your state tax authority do not contact people first by email, text, or unsolicited mail asking them to confirm personal information or claim a payment.

This guide explains how to tell the difference between a real payment notice and a scam, and what actual payment programs may send you money in 2025.

Key Takeaways

  • No federal stimulus payment is currently scheduled for May 2025; any notice claiming otherwise is likely fraudulent.
  • Scammers often use the word "stimulus" to trick people into sharing Social Security numbers, bank details, or clicking malicious links.
  • Real payment notices from the IRS or Social Security come through official websites and accounts, not through email or text.
  • Other payments you might receive in 2025 include tax refunds, child tax credit advances, and settlement distributions — each with different may be able to access rules.
  • If you think you are owed money from a real program, contact the agency directly using a phone number or website you find yourself, not one provided in a suspicious notice.

How to spot a fake stimulus payment notice

Scammers send notices that look official but contain red flags. A real government payment notice will never ask you to click a link, read an attachment, or provide your Social Security number, bank account number, or PIN in response to an unsolicited message.

If a notice claims you are owed a May 2025 stimulus payment and asks you to verify information, confirm your identity, or act quickly, it is a scam. Legitimate government agencies do not create urgency around payments, and they do not contact you first to tell you money is coming.

Common scam tactics include emails that appear to come from "IRS.gov" but link to a fake website, text messages claiming you have unclaimed funds, and phone calls from someone claiming to represent the Treasury Department. The sender may use official-looking logos and language to seem credible.

What actually happened with past stimulus payments

The federal government issued three rounds of stimulus payments during the COVID-19 pandemic: in 2020, 2021, and 2021 again. The final round was part of the American Rescue Plan Act and distributed payments in March and April 2021. No federal stimulus payment program has been authorized since then.

Some people are still receiving payments related to those earlier rounds — for example, if they filed a tax return after the initial distribution important date or if the IRS corrected an error in their payment. These are not new stimulus payments; they are corrections or delayed distributions from the 2021 program.

If you did not receive a stimulus payment you believe you were owed, you may have been able to claim it on your 2021 tax return as the Recovery Rebate Credit. That important date has passed, and the IRS is no longer processing those claims.

Payments you might actually receive in 2025

Several real payment programs operate in 2025 and may send you money. These are not stimulus payments, but they are legitimate and worth understanding.

Tax refunds are issued year-round as people file their returns. If you are owed a refund, the IRS will send it to the bank account or address you provided on your return, usually within 21 days of processing. You can check the status of your refund on IRS.gov using the "Where's My Refund?" tool.

Child Tax Credit advance payments are sent to families with children under 17 who meet income limits. These are not stimulus payments but regular tax credits paid in advance. The IRS determines who receives them based on your most recent tax return.

Settlement payments are distributed when a lawsuit or regulatory action results in money being returned to affected people. These vary widely in amount and may be able to access. Settlement payments are often announced through court websites or dedicated settlement claim websites, not through unsolicited notices.

State-level payments occasionally occur when a state has a budget surplus or passes legislation to distribute money. These are rare and announced through the state's official tax or treasury website, not through email or text.

How to verify a payment notice is real

If you receive a notice about a payment, do not use any contact information in the notice itself. Instead, go directly to the official website of the agency that supposedly sent it.

For federal payments, visit IRS.gov, SSA.gov, or Treasury.gov directly by typing the address into your browser. Look for a section about payments or refunds, and use any tools they provide to check your status. You can also call the main phone number listed on the official website.

For state payments, visit your state's official tax authority website. The address will be something like tax.ny.gov or taxes.ca.gov, not a link from an email.

If you cannot find any information about the payment on the official website, the notice is almost certainly fraudulent. Do not respond to it, and do not provide any personal information.

What to do if you think you are owed money

If you believe you are owed a payment from a real program — such as a tax refund or a settlement — contact the relevant agency directly. Use a phone number or website you find yourself, not one provided in a suspicious notice.

For tax refunds, use the IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool on IRS.gov or call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. For Social Security payments, visit SSA.gov or call 1-800-772-1213. For state tax matters, contact your state's tax authority directly.

If you have received a scam notice, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report phishing emails to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov and text message scams to your wireless carrier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there any federal stimulus payment coming in 2025?

No federal stimulus payment is currently scheduled for 2025. If you see a notice claiming otherwise, it is a scam. The last federal stimulus payments were issued in 2021.

What if I received a notice about a May 2025 stimulus payment by email?

Delete it. The IRS and Social Security do not contact people by email to notify them about payments. If you are concerned you may be owed money, visit the official agency website directly and check your account or refund status there.

Can I claim a stimulus payment I never received on my taxes?

The important date to claim unclaimed stimulus payments from 2020 and 2021 has passed. You cannot claim them on current tax returns. If you believe an error was made, contact the IRS directly through IRS.gov.

How do I know if a settlement payment notice is real?

Real settlement notices are announced through court websites or dedicated settlement claim websites with .gov or .org addresses. Search the settlement name online along with "official claim" to find the real website. Never click links in unsolicited emails or texts.

What should I do if someone calls claiming I am owed a stimulus payment?

Hang up. Government agencies do not call people to tell them about payments. If you want to check on a refund or payment, call the agency yourself using a number you find on their official website.