I've actually had people call the office and ask me about this. I'm glad the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has finally addressed the rumors that have been going around on social media claiming that a fourth round of stimulus checks will automatically go out to residents in 10 states on Nov. 30.
The rumor began after the IRS revealed on Nov. 17 that some Americans who were eligible to receive pandemic-era stimulus checks but didn't apply for them could still get the money by filing amended tax returns for 2020 and 2021 and claiming the funds through the "recovery rebate credit."
Following the IRS' announcement on Nov. 17 that some people who missed out on earlier stimulus rounds or got checks but didn't get all the money they were eligible for, a post on social media claimed that the IRS was going to send out a fourth round of stimulus checks.
The widely shared post claims that a "4th round" of "stimulus checks" is going out at the end of the month in the following 10 states: Alabama, Arizona, Maryland, New York, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee, and Texas.
“If your account information is on file with the IRS, you will automatically get your money deposited into the account they have on file,” reads the widely shared post. “If you received a paper check for your tax refund this year, you will get your stimulus. So if you moved & they don’t have a new address, that’s your business."
The post then went on to claim that the payments will range from $500 to $2,000 depending on the state. It also cites its purported sources as “Google & IRS.”
However, Anthony Burke, an IRS spokesperson, said in an emailed statement that no fourth round of stimulus checks has been authorized.
While it's true that some states listed in the social media post will be issuing tax-related payments in the coming weeks and months, these are unrelated to pandemic-era stimulus and involve things like Arizona's Families Tax Rebate program that provides a one-time payment of up to $750 for taxpayers with dependent children.
However, it is true that taxpayers who were eligible for pandemic-era stimulus but didn't collect—or didn't get all they were entitled to—can still apply for the stimulus cash.
The IRS revealed on Nov. 17 that, according to its records, some eligible individuals and families didn't end up collecting economic impact payments—also known as stimulus payments or stimulus checks. They clarified that those who missed out can still collect the money through the "recovery rebate credit." The deadline to claim the 2020 credit is May 17, 2024, while the one for claiming the 2021 credit is April 15, 2025.
In order to claim the recovery rebate credit, taxpayers must first file a tax return—even if they didn't have any income from a job, business or other source. To claim the 2020 recovery rebate credit, individuals must file a tax return (or amend one already filed) for the 2020 tax year. The deadline to do so is May 17, 2024. For the 2021 recovery rebate credit, the deadline for filing (or amending) a tax return is April 15, 2025.
People who filed tax returns for 2020 or 2021 and didn't claim the credit must file an Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040-X, in order to claim the recovery rebate credit.