President Donald Trump has suggested issuing $2,000 tariff rebate payments, though he has said the checks would likely be limited to individuals and families earning under $100,000 a year.
Speaking previously from the Oval Office, Trump said the U.S. has collected “hundreds of billions of dollars” in tariff revenue and plans to issue “dividends” to people with moderate and middle incomes, possibly beginning in mid-2026.
Who Would Qualify
While no formal proposal has been released, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the payments would be aimed at “working families” making less than “say, $100,000.” Trump echoed that message on Truth Social, writing that high-income earners would be excluded from the payments.
Under a $100,000 income cap, higher earners would not qualify. Trump has also said any leftover tariff revenue after payments are issued would be used to help pay down the national debt.
How Many Households Could Be Excluded
Data cited from the U.S. Census Bureau shows about 42% of U.S. households earned more than $100,000 in 2025, meaning those families would likely be ineligible. That leaves an estimated 58% of households potentially qualifying under the proposed income threshold.
If eligibility is based on individual income rather than household income, roughly 18% of U.S. adults would fall into the high-income category and be excluded, according to YouGov Profiles data.
Income Trends Complicate Eligibility
The number of households earning over $100,000 has steadily increased since 2020, a trend expected to continue. In 2024, the median family household income was $108,600, while the median income across all households was $83,730, placing many families near the proposed cutoff.
Congressional Approval Required
Before any checks could be sent, Congress would need to pass legislation authorizing the payments. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said he expects stimulus-related legislation to be introduced early this year.
Concerns Over Cost and Deficit
Tax experts at the Tax Foundation warn the proposal could significantly increase the federal deficit. They estimate that distributing $2,000 payments to tax filers and spouses alone would cost about $279.8 billion, with costs rising further if dependents and non-filers are included.
As of September, Trump’s new tariffs had generated roughly $117 billion—far short of what would be needed to fund the rebates. The Tax Foundation concluded that, under most scenarios, the payments would add to the deficit rather than reduce it, arguing that eliminating tariffs would provide more effective relief.
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