Many taxpayers are wondering about a rumored IRS direct deposit of $1,390 as we enter 2026. In other words: there exists no official federal relief check or stimulus payment in such amount that is to be distributed. Although viral posts on social media platforms tend to incorporate certain numerical values such as 1390 to attract attention, these values are often false interpretations of taxes statutes or benefit changes. However, as of most recently, these reports have been associated with re-conciling of old 2021 tax credit or estimated refunds under new tax policy, as opposed to a new emergency payout by the government.
The Truth Behind the $1,390 Rumor
The amount of 1,390 is a gross fiction in the form of a phantom that has taken root through Internet misinformation. It is absent in any federal legislation of 2025 or 2026. The majority of experts think that the rumor began as a misinterpretation of the $1,400 Recovery Rebate Credit of the pandemic period of 2021. The IRS did make one final batch of payments to taxpayers who had qualified to receive that old credit but had not done so at the end of 2025. Nonetheless, as of 2026, no such payment is in any way awaiting release to most Americans unless it is a normal tax refund.
Direct Deposit Mandate for 2026
Although the check of 1390 is not real one, the manner in which you get money through the IRS has now officially changed. The IRS now does not use paper checks as per the provisions of Executive Order 14247. In 2025 tax returns due in early 2026, the IRS has made all disbursements direct-deposited. Without giving the bank account data on your file, your refund will take a long time to be received because the IRS handles only a small number of hardship exceptions of giving paper checks. This initiative is aimed at reducing the fraud and theft which are common in physical mail-in checks.
Who will be allowed to receive Real IRS Relief in 2026?
Rather than the one check of $1,390, the monetary assistance of 2026 is expressed through increased tax credits as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill which was enacted in 2025. This includes:
- The Child Tax Credit: Increased to a maximum of 2200 per child.
- Overtime/Tip Exemptions: The hourly employees are finally allowed to omit some of the overtime wages and tips as part of their taxable income which may mean a significantly higher refund check.
- Retroactive Social Security Payments: A number of retirees might get a one-time retroactive payment by March 2026 assuming they had been harmed by the recent abolishment of some benefits offsets (WEP/GPO).
Checking Your Real Payment Status
To determine whether or not you are actually owed money by the IRS, you need to follow third-party social media warnings and proceed to the very source. The “Where’s My Refund?” The only authorization to track any direct deposits is to use tool on IRS.gov. Furthermore, you can access your IRS Online Account and check whether you have any unclaimed credits in previous years or not. When you see a text or an email and it writes that you are eligible to get a relief payment of $1,390 and requests your bank account information, it is a phishing scam that has set out to steal your identity.
What to Do If You Are “Unbanked”
The IRS is eventually canceling paper checks, and the people who do not have a traditional bank account need to take some steps to receive their real tax refunds as soon as possible. The IRS suggests that prepaid debit cards or “digital wallets” should be used, which give a routing and account number. Most low-income taxpayers are also able to open an account with the National Rural Trust or comparable financial inclusion efforts like no-fee or low-fee account. These measures will help you to be ready to file your taxes at the beginning of 2026 with money safely deposited and fast.
Program Data
| Payment Type | 2026 Reality |
| $1,390 Stimulus | Not Real (Misinformation) |
| Delivery Method | Direct Deposit (Mandatory) |
| Child Tax Credit | Up to $2,200 per child |
| SSDI/SSI COLA | 2.8% Increase |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does the IRS issue a check in January 2026 in the amount of 1,390?
No. There is no $1,390 stimulus check. When you encounter this number online, then it is probable that it is a scam or that it is an insight into the misconception of your typical tax refund.
2. Why now does the IRS make direct deposit a requirement?
The government is reducing paper checks to cut expenses and fraud in a 2025 Executive order. Digital transfers have 16 times higher chances of being stolen or lost in comparison to paper checks.
3. Is there still a 2021 stimulus money?
Claiming the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit was possible until April 15, 2025. That funding window has passed unless you submitted an extension, or unless you were in a particular IRS audit.
Disclaimer
The content is informative in nature. The official sources can be verified at IRS.gov or SSA.gov; we would like to make sure that every user will be informed correctly.
