$1,390 IRS stimulus checks are not in the works, despite viral rumors

The Brief

LOS ANGELES - The IRS says there are no new stimulus checks on the way, despite viral claims circulating on social media.

Posts widely shared Friday alleged that the IRS and Treasury Department had approved $1,390 payments for low- and middle-income taxpayers to be distributed before the end of the summer.

An IRS spokesperson said those claims are false.

What we know:

Stimulus checks, also known as economic impact payments, must be authorized by Congress before the Treasury Department can issue them. No such legislation has passed in 2024.

The rumor may stem from a separate IRS announcement earlier this year about distributing about $2.4 billion to taxpayers who failed to claim a 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit. That refundable credit, worth up to $1,400 per person, was tied