Washington, Feb 7, 2026, 07:38 (EST)
- No new federal stimulus checks are lined up for February 2026—the IRS hasn’t issued any announcement, and Congress hasn’t signed off on additional payments.
- Trump told NBC he’s “looking at” $2,000 tariff rebate checks, though he hasn’t committed. He also indicated any checks wouldn’t arrive until 2026 at the earliest.
- The IRS is cautioning taxpayers: don’t respond to any texts or emails promising “stimulus payments.” Instead, check any notices directly with official sources.
There’s no word from the IRS about any fresh federal stimulus checks for February 2026, and Congress hasn’t signed off on new payments, according to Fox 5 DC. Still, social media chatter keeps pushing claims of $2,000 “tariff dividend” payments or other supposed direct deposits, even as 2026 gets underway. Some posts toss in references to state initiatives like Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend, Fox 5 DC noted. 1
Timing isn’t random here. Tax filing season pushes millions into “money-watching” mode as refunds, credits, and deposits land in accounts. Scammers notice the uptick—and move in on the commotion.
President Donald Trump kept the uncertainty alive with his remarks. Speaking to NBC News on Feb. 4, Trump said, “I’m looking at it very seriously,” but clarified, “I haven’t made the commitment yet.” He also floated the idea that checks might land “toward the end of the year.” 2
Pretty much the only “new” round of stimulus-like money in recent years has come from measures already baked into pandemic relief. On Dec. 20, 2024, the IRS announced automatic payments of up to $1,400 would go out to roughly 1 million taxpayers who hadn’t claimed the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit—a refundable tax credit intended for people who missed out on one or more COVID-era Economic Impact Payments. “We’re making these payments automatic,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in the release. The IRS added that the credit won’t count as income for federal benefits like Supplemental Security Income. 3
According to the IRS, those older tracking tools people keep looking for? Not going to help with any fresh stimulus checks. The agency says it “has issued all first, second and third Economic Impact Payments,” adding that taxpayers “can no longer use the Get My Payment application to check” on their payment status. 4
Fraud tends to creep in right where public curiosity and official action diverge. “The IRS doesn’t make initial contact through email or social media channels,” the agency warns. Scammers, on the other hand, use texts about bogus “tax credits” or “stimulus payments,” baiting people into clicking fraudulent links. 5
Trump’s proposal for tariff-funded checks stands apart from the IRS-run stimulus efforts. Tariffs hit imports, charged at the border to U.S. importers—costs that usually get pushed to consumers. In a November analysis, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget pegged the price tag of $2,000 payments, modeled after COVID-era relief, at about $600 billion per round. By comparison, new tariffs in place have so far brought in around $100 billion, with yearly revenue potentially reaching $300 billion if all tariffs, including contested ones, are left standing. 6
Democrats on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee are pushing the point that tariffs are hitting household budgets directly. Their numbers: from February to November, import taxes set the average U.S. household back roughly $1,198. Sen. Maggie Hassan put it bluntly: “Every American is paying for Trump’s tariffs.” Economist Kimberly Clausing, quoted by the Associated Press, described the import taxes as “the largest tax increase on consumers.” 7
Still, the so-called tariff “dividend” is just that for now—a concept. No official eligibility standards, no timeline for payments, nothing concrete. Analysts warn one obvious hazard: should tariff revenues fall short, or a court strike down the tariffs themselves, the numbers unravel quickly. Trump has floated the idea that he could bypass Congress, but distributing checks broadly would almost certainly trip up on budget hurdles, legal issues, and political pushback.
At this point, the facts are straightforward but worth repeating: the IRS is busy handling tax returns and sending out refunds—there’s no fresh February stimulus check in play. If you get a text about an incoming $2,000 direct deposit from the IRS, take it as a red flag and double-check with the IRS directly, steering clear of any links in those messages.
