Fact Check: Is a $1,375 Child Tax Deposit Being Mailed in 2026? No. Here’s What’s Real.

No, there is no official $1,375 child tax deposit being mailed to families in 2026. This claim, which has circulated widely on social media and some websites, is false. The confusion appears to stem from mixing up two separate government programs: the enhanced Child Tax Credit and the new Trump Accounts program.

The IRS standard amounts are either $2,200 (the maximum credit per child) or $1,700 (the refundable portion you can receive as a refund), neither of which equals $1,375. Meanwhile, tax scams have exploded—between September 1, 2025, and February 19, 2026, the IRS identified 1,468 malicious tax-related domains, with 43 new fake sites appearing per day. This article separates fact from fiction on the actual child-related tax benefits available in 2026, explains how each program works, and shows you how to protect yourself from the tax fraud schemes that prey on families looking for financial relief.

Where Does the $1,375 Number Come From?
The Real 2026 Child Tax Credit and What You Actually Get
Understanding the Trump Accounts Program (Separate from Child Tax Credit)
How to Claim These Benefits and Distinguish Them from Scams
Red Flags That Separate Reality from Tax Fraud
Eligibility Requirements and Income Limits Explained
What’s Coming in 2026 and Beyond
Conclusion

Where Does the $1,375 Number Come From?

The $1,375 figure does not appear in any official IRS guidance or government tax program. This number appears to originate from scam websites and misleading social media posts that either misquote legitimate tax credits, conflate different programs, or simply invent numbers to generate clicks and engagement. Some versions of the scam claim that this is an “advance” payment or a “one-time deposit,” language designed to sound official and urgent. What makes this claim particularly dangerous is that it exploits real tax changes.

The 2026 tax year did bring meaningful increases to child-related benefits, including a boost to the Child Tax Credit. By mixing a grain of truth with fabricated details and false amounts, scammers create confusion that looks just credible enough to hook people searching for information about their refunds. For example, a family with three children might see a post promising “$4,125 in deposits” (three times the false $1,375 figure) and wonder if they’re missing out on money they’re entitled to. The IRS has warned repeatedly that it does not initiate contact with taxpayers via email, text message, or social media—only through official USPS mail. If you receive an email, text, or social media message claiming a payment is coming, it is a scam.

The Real 2026 Child Tax Credit and What You Actually Get

The legitimate Child tax credit for 2026 offers a maximum of $2,200 per qualifying child, up from $2,000 in previous years. This is a substantial benefit for families. However, not all of this credit is “refundable,” meaning you can’t necessarily receive the full amount as a refund check. The refundable portion—the amount you can get back even if you owe no taxes—is $1,700 per child. Here’s a practical example: A single parent earning $150,000 per year with two qualifying children would be eligible for the full $2,200 credit per child, totaling $4,400 in credits.

If their tax liability is $3,000, they would use $3,000 of the credit to eliminate their tax bill, and they’d receive the remaining $1,400 refunded. This is different from the false $1,375 claim, which has no basis in any tax code or regulation. Income limits do apply, and they’re important to understand. Individual filers cannot claim the full credit if they earn more than $200,000; joint filers cannot if they earn over $400,000. The credit phases out by $50 for every $1,000 (or fraction thereof) of income above these limits. Additionally, each child must have a valid social security number issued before the due date of your tax return—a requirement that excludes some newborns and adopted children born late in the year.

Understanding the Trump Accounts Program (Separate from Child Tax Credit)

Many people mistakenly conflate the Child Tax Credit with the Trump Accounts program, which is an entirely separate initiative. Trump Accounts are investment accounts for eligible children, and the government will deposit $1,000 (not $1,375) into each account—but this is not automatic and does not happen in 2026 for most families. Here’s the key limitation: Contributions cannot be made to Trump Accounts until after July 4, 2026. This is a future benefit, not an immediate payment. The accounts are designed for U.S.

citizens born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028—a narrow window primarily covering newborns. Parents cannot simply claim this money on their 2025 tax return and receive it immediately. Once the program becomes available after July 4, 2026, parents will need to file IRS Form 4547 with their tax return to claim the $1,000 contribution. But here’s the crucial detail for investors: the money must be invested in S&P 500-tracking mutual funds or ETFs. You cannot hold the money in cash or invest it in individual stocks, bonds, or other securities. For families interested in the stock market, this could be valuable as a long-term savings vehicle for children, but it requires understanding the investment restrictions and the requirement to maintain an S&P 500-focused portfolio.

Understanding the Trump Accounts Program (Separate from Child Tax Credit)

How to Claim These Benefits and Distinguish Them from Scams

For the Child Tax Credit, you claim it when you file your 2025 tax return (which you’ll file in early 2026 for tax year 2025 income). You don’t need to take any special action to “unlock” the credit or file a separate form—it’s part of your regular return. The IRS will process your return and either reduce your tax bill or refund the difference to you. If you’re expecting a refund from the credit, the IRS typically processes it for direct deposit by March 2, 2026, for early filers. For Trump Accounts, you’ll file Form 4547 once the program opens after July 4, 2026.

You don’t need to do anything now—no payment, no personal information shared, no special websites to visit. The real program will be explained through official IRS and Treasury Department channels, not through pop-up ads, unsolicited emails, or social media messages. The red flag that separates legitimate government benefits from scams is urgency and the request for personal information. No legitimate government program requires you to “act now” or “claim your money before it’s too late.” The IRS does not ask for Social Security numbers, banking information, or payment details via email or text. If you receive a message claiming you need to enter your information to verify eligibility or speed up payment, it is a scam.

Red Flags That Separate Reality from Tax Fraud

Tax scams targeting child-related benefits have exploded. Between September 1, 2025, and February 19, 2026, security researchers identified 1,468 malicious domains designed to mimic legitimate tax sites or claim agencies. That’s an average of 43 new fake websites launching every single day during those five months. These sites may look nearly identical to real IRS pages, claiming to offer advance payments, verification assistance, or priority processing of the false $1,375 benefit. Common scam tactics include: claiming you’re eligible for a “secret” government benefit most people don’t know about; asking you to download files or software to verify your identity; requesting payment upfront to “secure” or “process” your benefit; using threatening language about tax penalties if you don’t act immediately; and offering the money through unconventional channels like prepaid debit cards, gift cards, or wire transfers.

The IRS never uses these methods for legitimate refunds or credits. Another major red flag is the specific dollar amount itself. Legitimate tax credits are based on law and IRS regulations. The $1,375 figure appears nowhere in the Internal Revenue Code, IRS instructions, or Treasury Department guidance. If you search the official IRS website (irs.gov) for “$1,375,” you will find no matches related to a child tax benefit. The absence of official documentation is itself proof the claim is false.

Red Flags That Separate Reality from Tax Fraud

Eligibility Requirements and Income Limits Explained

To receive the full $2,200 Child Tax Credit in 2026, you must meet several requirements. First, your child must be a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien. Second, the child must have a valid Social Security number, issued before the due date of your tax return. This excludes newborns born very late in the year and some newly adopted children who don’t have SSNs yet. Third, you must claim the child as a dependent on your return, and the child must be under age 17 at the end of the tax year.

Income limits are strict. If you’re a single filer earning more than $200,000, your credit begins to phase out. If you’re married filing jointly, the threshold is $400,000. For every $1,000 over the limit (or fraction thereof), your credit reduces by $50. A married couple earning $410,000 would lose half of their credit due to phasing out. This is a substantial limitation that many families overlook when trying to determine what they’ll actually receive.

What’s Coming in 2026 and Beyond

The tax landscape is shifting in 2026, and understanding the difference between the Child Tax Credit and Trump Accounts is essential for families planning financially. The enhanced Child Tax Credit of $2,200 is scheduled to be part of tax filings for 2026 income (filed in early 2027), though there is ongoing discussion about whether these provisions will be extended beyond current law.

Trump Accounts represent a new initiative that doesn’t begin until mid-2026, making it a longer-term savings tool rather than an immediate financial benefit. For investors and financially-minded families, the Trump Accounts program introduces an interesting consideration: the requirement to invest in S&P 500-tracking funds means a child’s account follows broad market performance and diversification. This could serve as an excellent introduction to index investing for young people, though families should understand market volatility and the long time horizon before the child can access or control the account.

Conclusion

The $1,375 child tax deposit claim is a scam with no basis in law. The real benefits available to families are the $2,200 Child Tax Credit (with a $1,700 refundable portion) for 2026 tax returns and the $1,000 Trump Accounts program (available after July 4, 2026, for eligible children born 2025-2028). Both are legitimate, but they have different timelines, different eligibility requirements, and different rules.

The Child Tax Credit is claimed on your tax return; Trump Accounts require filing Form 4547 and investing in S&P 500 funds. To protect yourself from the 1,468+ malicious tax domains currently operating, verify you’re on an official .gov website before entering any personal information, ignore unsolicited messages claiming special benefits, and report suspicious sites to the IRS at its official Dirty Dozen Tax Scams page. The IRS will never ask for your information via email, text, or social media—only through official USPS mail. When in doubt about eligibility or benefit amounts, visit irs.gov directly or call the IRS helpline rather than clicking links in unsolicited messages.