No Fourth Stimulus Check Expected in 2025, Despite Online Rumors; Focus Shifts to Tax Refund Status
Asheville, NC - september 25, 2025 – Despite circulating online claims, a fourth stimulus check is not currently authorized or expected in 2025. Recent social media posts falsely linking former President Trump‘s proposed tariffs to a potential “Trump tariff rebate” are unsubstantiated. Instead, taxpayers are encouraged to focus on tracking the status of their 2024 federal and North Carolina state tax refunds.
The surge in misinformation often appears as tax season concludes, prompting confusion among filers. While discussions around potential economic relief measures are ongoing, no legislation authorizing a new round of direct payments has been passed at the federal level.
Tracking Your Federal Tax Refund
The IRS provides an online tool to check the status of your federal tax refund on the dedicated IRS webpage. To utilize the tool, you will need your Social Security or individual taxpayer ID number, your filing status, and the exact refund amount listed on your return.
the IRS states that refund status information is updated overnight, once every 24 hours. here’s a breakdown of the possible statuses:
* Return Received: The IRS has received your return and is processing it.
* Refund Approved: your refund has been approved and is being prepared for issuance, with an expected issue date provided.
* Refund Sent: The IRS has sent your refund, either via direct deposit (allow up to five days for bank account arrival) or by mail (allow several weeks for check delivery).
Refund status will typically appear 24 hours after e-filing a current-year return, three to four days after e-filing a prior-year return, or four weeks after filing a paper return.
Checking Your North carolina State Tax Refund
North Carolina taxpayers can check the status of their state tax refund via the NCDOR webpage. you’ll need the first Social Security number shown on your return and the exact refund amount.The NCDOR review process generally takes three to six weeks after electronic submission, or up to 12 weeks for paper returns.
Possible NCDOR refund statuses include:
* Refund Issued: Your refund has been issued.
* Return Received: The NCDOR has received your return.
* Processing and Validating Return Information: The NCDOR is processing and verifying your return.
* Return Under Initial Review: The NCDOR is reviewing your return for identity verification and fraud protection.
* Return Requires Enhanced Protection Measures: Further review is being conducted to ensure security.
* Return Requires Further Examination: A more detailed examination of your return is necessary before refund approval.
* Refund Approved: Your refund has been approved and is being processed for issuance.
Taxpayers should rely on official sources – the IRS and NCDOR websites – for accurate information regarding their refunds and potential economic relief programs.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
Maria Francis and Samantha Neely, USA TODAY Network, contributed to this report.
