Earlier last month, the internet took like a house on fire to the claim that the Biden administration would be distributing stimulus checks up to $185,000. The payments were said to be for homeowners as an “emergency housing stimulus” with the only other qualifying criteria being having a credit score over 600. Further, if you own your home, you are supposedly entitled to $50,000. Unfortunately for homeowners, no payment will ever be received in your mail.
Mass disappointment at fake stimulus payment
Despite the eruption which occurred online, homeowners will be disappointed to know that there will be no payments of $185,000 or $50,000. The rumor was spread through a Facebook post which directs users to a website which does not appear to work when the link is accessed. Alejandra Castro, a spokesperson for the IRS, confirmed that the news was far from the truth with USA Today: “This has nothing to do with the IRS,” they continued, ” “I haven’t heard anything about this.”
There is no evidence to suggest that any program is exist in the future either. This is unfortunately not a matter of future plans being leaked to the public but is instead a scam with no truthful basis to it. The Facebook post and account which made the claim has no affiliation with the U.S. government. While several pieces of legislation have been passed by Biden in September of this year, none were even remotely close to the fabricated claim.
Other stimulus payments are being paid out
While no homeowner can expect a cash payment of $185,000 anytime soon, stimulus checks are being mailed out across the nation. Depending on which state you find yourself a resident of, you could receive over $3,000 in stimulus payments. Many states such as California, Alaska, New Mexico, and West Virginia have been sending out stimulus payments in the form of tax rebates to provide immediate financial relief and to encourage spending.
Alaska is currently offering the most generous stimulus payment to their residents. Residents can expect to receive checks worth $3,200 this month. The payments come from the Permanent Fund Dividend program. The check will be a one-time benefit for residents of Alaska who do not have a criminal record. Residents must have a valid Social Security number and the state must have been the individual’s main address for at least one year.
The IRS has previously warned citizens about fake news on the internet
The IRS has consistently been targeted by scam artists online. In March earlier this year, scam artists were spreading false information to encourage people to submit fake wage and tax information in order to receive a tax rebate for a fake income. Scammers would instruct individuals to make up large fake incomes and withholding figures as well as fake employers, promising people that they would receive rebates as much as five figures on a fake income.
Other scams include making up fake employees in a household to try and claim a refund based on false sick leave and family wages which were never paid. The IRS has issued warnings to citizens stating that you can be fined up to $5,000 for faking tax information and could also face criminal prosecution. If you have previously been involved in such a scam, the IRS recommends that you amend your previous tax returns or speak to tax professional.
While stimulus payments may be reaching the nation far and wide, one with a sum of $185,000 is not to come your way anytime soon. The widespread attention the scam received online however calls attention to the ongoing housing crisis in the U.S where homeowners are struggling to keep up with expenses and renters are unable to afford a down-payment on a house despite paying eye-watering rental rates.
