President Donald Trump is saying American citizens can expect money back from the country’s tariff income. Can you plan for a payday in 2025?
On Sunday, Nov. 9, Trump said Americans will get a $2,000 check from tariff income in a Truth Social post. He touted a $2,000 payout for people for everyone but high-income earners.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that he hadn’t spoken with Trump about the proposal as part of a Sunday interview on “This Week”, according to ABC News reporting.
“We’re going to issue a dividend to our middle-income people and lower-income people ‒ about $2,000,” Trump said in the Oval Office on Monday, Nov. 10.
“And we’ll use the remaining tariffs to lower our debt,” he added. “We’re going to be lowering our debt, which is a national security thing.”
Earlier in the year, Trump said his administration was considering a rebate plan but preferred to focus on reducing the national debt.
The president also said that taxpayers might get a cut of savings from the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, based on a plan suggested by an investment CEO in early 2025. Elon Musk, who had been tasked with leading DOGE, initially championed the cause but later rolled back initial savings estimates and said the checks might not be coming.
DOGE checks have still not been issued.
Bessent said a tariff rebate, if issued, might not be issued like a stimulus check.
Also, the funds are pending a Supreme Court decision. Justices heard arguments about whether or not the tariffs are constitutional on Nov. 5. If they determine they’re illegal, the government will likely refund those billions of dollars to U.S.-based businesses and citizens who paid them.
The tariffs generated about $100 billion in revenue by the end of October, but a new analysis from the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the rebate as proposed could cost up to $600 billion.
Here’s what we know about the proposed rebates so far. Will Americans get an extra check? When? What could the income requirements be in Mississippi?
What did Trump say about the tariff checks?
“People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS! We are now the Richest, Most Respected Country In the World, With Almost No Inflation, and A Record Stock Market Price. 401k’s are Highest EVER. We are taking in Trillions of Dollars and will soon begin paying down our ENORMOUS DEBT, $37 Trillion. Record Investment in the USA, plants and factories going up all over the place. A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone,” he posted Sunday.
The most recent report from the Labor Department shows inflation is on the rise.
Stock markets have seen highs in 2025. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq set records in June. The S&P 500 has been high in November. The markets trended upward Monday, following news that the government shutdown could be almost over.
Will tariff checks be paid?
Bessent told anchor George Stephanopoulos during his interview that the funds could be issued in different formats.
“You know, it could be just the tax decreases that we are seeing on the president’s agenda — you know, no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security, deductibility of auto loans,” he said.
Am I getting a $2,000 tariff check? Who could qualify?
The president did not clarify what income level is considered high income.
The Committee for a Responsible Government calculations assumed the payments would be structured like COVID-19-era Economic Impact Payments.
In Trump’s first term, the 2020 CARES Act arranged for payments for adults with smaller disbursements for kids. To be eligible for the maximum amount, individual taxpayers could earn up to $75,000. It was $150,000 for joint income tax filers.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 18% of Mississippi residents live in poverty. The median household income in the state is $54,915, and average income per person is $30,529.
How much could $2,000 tariff checks cost the US?
The Tax Foundation analyzed economic stimulus payments sent out during COVID. Maximum amounts each person could get are listed.
- The CARES Act funding sent in March 2020 gave $1,200 to adults and $500 per qualifying dependent. The estimated total cost was $292 billion.
- The Consolidated Appropriations Act issued the second round in December 2020. Adults and kids got $600. The estimated cost was $164 billion.
- In March 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act led to the final round of stimulus funds being sent in March 2021. Adults and kids got $1,400. The total cost was $411 billion.
The Committee for a Responsible Government cautions that $2,000 dividends sent based on CARES Act eligibility requirements could cost about $600 billion. The Trump administration reportedly says the tariffs could generate up to $300 billion per year.
The group questions whether the plan is to pay the dividend once or every year, and they argue it would prevent funds from being used to pay down the national deficit or offset other spending needs.
Can the president order that money be sent to all Americans?
No, not as a direct payout. Only the U.S. Congress can approve spending like reimbursement checks.
So far, the $2,000 checks have not been proposed in official legislation.
There is, however, a similar bill already introduced in the U.S. Senate.
Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley proposed the American Worker Rebate Act of 2025 in late July. If passed, it would give $600 tariff rebates to many Americans and their children, or $2,400 for a family of four, according to The Hill. The bill was referred to the finance committee, but there have been no additional updates.
When could I get the money?
Congress would have to approve the spending before Americans see a dime, if a check will be issued.
There is no current timeline on when or if Congress might address the issue.
Contributing: Francesca Chambers, Bebe Hodges, Diana Leyva, Jordan Green
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.
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