IRS Direct Deposit Relief Payments Rolling Out: Check Eligibility and Exact Deposit Dates

Fact check: No $1,390 “IRS direct deposit relief payment” is scheduled for October 2025 H2: Where the rumor started Over the past week, posts on Facebook, TikTok and X have claimed that the Internal Revenue Service will automatically deposit a one-time $1,390 relief payment into eligible taxpayers’ bank accounts in early October. Many of the viral graphics recycle language and layouts from the 2020–2021 Economic Impact Payment program, swapping in new dollar amounts and dates. H2: What the IRS has actually said • The IRS website lists only three rounds of Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) authorized between 2020 and 2021; the agency states that “all first, second and third payments have been issued” and that no further federal stimulus checks are pending. • There is no press release, bulletin, or newsroom update announcing a $1,390 payment for October 2025. • A spokesperson told multiple media outlets that the circulating graphics are “fake” and urged taxpayers to rely on IRS.gov for official announcements. H2: Independent media confirm the claim is false National and local newsrooms have investigated the posts and found no legislative or administrative action supporting a new federal payout. Hindustan Times, for example, labeled the $1,390 claim “completely false,” noting that it appears to be a distortion of the original COVID-era stimulus program. Similar fact-checks have run in regional newspapers and on TV stations from New York to California. H2: How to recognize an IRS payment hoax H3: 1. Missing congressional authority Federal relief payments require an act of Congress or a presidential executive order tied to existing law. No such bill has passed either chamber in 2025. H3: 2. Unofficial web domains Many viral posts link to lifestyle blogs, recruitment sites, or foreign news aggregators—none of which are .gov domains. H3: 3. Requests for personal data Some hoax pages prompt readers to “update banking info” or “verify Social Security numbers,” classic phishing tactics designed to harvest sensitive data. H2: Legitimate payments you could still claim Although no $1,390 deposit is coming, millions of taxpayers may be entitled to money they never received during earlier stimulus rounds: • Recovery Rebate Credit: If you missed any of the three EIPs, you can still claim the amount by filing a 2021 or 2022 tax return. • Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC): Expanded pandemic-era rules expired, but you can retroactively file for credits you qualified for in 2020 or 2021. • State-level relief checks: Several states, including New York and Virginia, have passed targeted inflation rebates; visit your state Department of Revenue for details. H2: Protect your refund and personal information • Bookmark IRS.gov and IRS.gov/newsroom for verified announcements. • Use the official “Get My Payment” or “Where’s My Refund?” tools—both reside only on IRS.gov. • Enable two-factor authentication with any tax software or bank account tied to direct deposit. • Report phishing emails or texts claiming to be from the IRS to phishing@irs.gov. H2: Bottom line There is no federally approved $1,390 direct deposit relief payment on the calendar for October 2025. Sharing bank details or clicking on third-party “claim” links could put you at risk of identity theft. For accurate information, rely exclusively on IRS.gov or reputable news outlets and disregard social-media graphics that cite no government source.