Will the IRS issue $8,700 stimulus checks to qualifying Americans in 2024?

Claim:

The IRS plans to issue $8,700 stimulus checks to qualifying Americans in 2024.

evaluation:

In June 2024, a tantalizing search string appeared on Google’s trending search list: “irs $8700 stimulus check irs gov.” The trending search indicated that the IRS was issuing $8,700 stimulus checks to eligible Americans through its website, IRS.gov.

In addition to searches related to the stimulus package, the list also showed other trending searches, including North Korea sending balloons loaded with fertilizer and garbage to South Korea and a woman partially engulfed in quicksand on a Maine beach.

The mention of stimulus checks may remind some US readers of the COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments and Child Tax Credit payments from 2020 and 2021. These were real payments that came directly from the IRS.

To be clear, the rumor that the IRS will be issuing $8,700 stimulus checks in 2024 is false. If the stimulus check offer was real, well-known news websites would be widely covering the development. We could not find any reliable news reports about new stimulus checks in June 2024.

Snopes emailed the IRS about this false rumor, and in response, IRS media relations specialist Robert Marvin pointed us to a July 2023 news release warning about text message and email scams abusing genuine Economic Impact Payments for 2020 and 2021. “But while stimulus payments ended long ago, related schemes have evolved and changed as scammers seek new ways to tailor their messaging to trick people,” the news release read in part.

Scams promising stimulus checks, subsidies, incentives, and grants

At the time of writing, it is not entirely clear why searches about $8,700 stimulus checks from the IRS were trending in the first place. In the past, similar false claims of free money to Americans began with fraudulent paid ads that were shown to users on social media platforms and websites such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. These paid ads claimed that the sitting U.S. President, Congress, the IRS, or other government-related persons or entities had authorized or would be issuing money or checks in the form of stimulus payments, grants, incentives, or benefits.

Users who clicked on past paid ads ended up on non-government websites that asked users to fill out surveys and appeared to refer users to companies if they were eligible for various services aimed at homeowners, seniors, and other consumer groups. Depending on the ad, the goal of those controlling the fake ads was likely a commission for the referral and the collection of user data.

A genuine support program

The official government website, USA.gov, warns that “the government does not provide free funds or grants for individual needs.” Readers looking for legitimate websites offering federal assistance programs should refer to the following information on the same USA.gov page:

Federal aid programs provide financial assistance for living and business expenses. Use the free official government websites below to search for programs you may be eligible for.

• Benefits.gov – Food, housing, health care, child care, social security, and more
• GovLoans.gov – Small Business, Education, Housing and More
• Grants.gov – Does not apply to individuals or personal expenses. Typically only available to organizations working on government-funded programs or projects.

Each program has its own eligibility rules, application process, and deadlines.

USA.gov says consumers can report “free money” scams they receive in the form of texts, emails, ads or websites to the FTC.

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