$1,400 and $5,000 Stimulus Checks: "DOGE Payments" and Additional Checks Available Right Now

American taxpayers have something to cheer about in 2025. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has confirmed that over 1 million taxpayers will receive $1,400 stimulus checks, thanks to unclaimed Recovery Rebate Credits from 2021. These payments are not new benefits, but rather money that should have been paid earlier during the COVID-19 pandemic but was missed due to errors in tax filings.

The total payout will reach around $2.4 billion, and most eligible people are expected to receive their payment before June 2025.

What Is This Stimulus Check About?

This payment is part of the Refund Recovery Credit under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. During the pandemic, the government rolled out stimulus payments to help Americans. But later audits showed that around 1 million people didn’t claim the money, often due to mistakes like entering “$0” or leaving the field blank in their 2021 tax returns.

To fix these errors, the IRS is now sending the missed payments automatically.

Is This a “New” Stimulus Check?

The answer is yes and no.

There are no new stimulus programs being created in 2025. However, since many people never got the money they were supposed to, this automatic disbursement feels like a new round of stimulus checks. The funds were already allocated earlier, but due to administrative issues, they weren’t delivered on time.

Who Is Eligible to Receive the $1,400?

To qualify for the automatic payment, you must meet the following income requirements:

For individuals:

Maximum income to qualify: $75,000
Phase-out ends at $80,000

For married couples:

Maximum income: $150,000
Phase-out ends at $160,000

For dependents:

You’ll get $1,400 for each eligible dependent, including children.
For example, a family of four can receive up to $5,600.

Do I Need to Apply for the Payment?

In most cases, you don’t need to do anything. The IRS will automatically send the payment using details from your 2021 tax return.

But you should take the following steps:

Make sure your bank account and postal address are correct.
If you’ve moved or changed banks, update your information using Form 8822 or by calling the IRS Taxpayer Service Center.
If you did not file a 2021 return, you must do so before April 15, 2025 to claim your refund.

What If I Don’t Receive the Check?

If you’re eligible but don’t receive your check even after getting a notification, wait at least six weeks before taking action. After that, you can submit Form 3911 to report a missing refund.

Also, beware of scams! The IRS does not ask for personal details via email, phone calls, or social media. Stay safe and always check updates from the official IRS website.

Are There Stimulus Checks Linked to Dogecoin (DOGE)?

Lately, there have been rumors about new stimulus checks backed by Dogecoin (DOGE) and supported by public figures like Elon Musk. However, the IRS has clearly stated that there is no cryptocurrency-based stimulus program.

Some early proposals suggested extra payments of $1,200 to $2,500 per family using government savings, but experts and lawmakers have already rejected the idea. The government is focusing on budget control, not launching new payment schemes.