More than 50% of US taxpayers don’t qualify for Elon Musk’s $5,000 DOGE stimulus

Source Cryptopolitan

More than half of American taxpayers are not eligible for the promised $5,000 DOGE stimulus that Elon Musk pushed as part of his work under President Donald Trump’s administration in 2025.

The payout was tied to the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a unit led by Elon to cut federal waste. 

The plan was simple: 20% of every dollar DOGE saved would be paid back to Americans in cash. But the numbers behind the plan have collapsed, and the criteria have narrowed so far that most taxpayers are left out.

Musk cuts payout estimate and narrows eligibility

As Cryptopolitan reported, Elon first pitched the idea expecting DOGE to save the federal government up to $2 trillion. With that projection, every taxpayer would walk away with $5,000. But that target didn’t last. 

On April 10, Elon told Trump that DOGE was now expected to save only $150 billion in its first fiscal year. That change dragged the possible payout down to just $375 per taxpayer, based on the same 20% return.

Still, that number was later adjusted again. DOGE’s official site now shows that the expected total savings would land closer to $1,000 per taxpayer. That figure is based on a pool of 161 million taxpayers, which remains the government’s current estimate. But even if that money gets distributed, most people won’t see it.

The real architect behind the check idea is James Fishback, CEO of investment firm Azoria. James pitched the concept to Elon as a way to reward people who pay more to the government than they receive in aid. “Checks would only be sent to tax-paying households,” he said.

That excludes Americans with an adjusted gross income under $40,000, because most of them pay little to no federal income tax. Pew Research data backs that up. So, half the country is already off the list.

James also explained that this isn’t your typical stimulus program. “Many low-income households saw transfer payments of between 25 and 30 percent of their annual income,” he said. That’s why DOGE checks would only go to net taxpayers — those who owe the IRS nothing and contribute more than they receive.

“They have a lower propensity to spend and a higher propensity to save a transfer payment like the DOGE Dividend,” James said.

Americans may need to temper DOGE check expectations

Elon gave a speech in Wisconsin where he said that whether the checks even get sent depends on Congress and “maybe the president.” So the whole plan is still floating. The $5,000 figure is off the table. Even the $1,000 figure is now just an estimate. And nothing has been signed into law. The more people speak on this, the more watered down it becomes.

Some Republicans want to kill the idea completely. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said the country should be focused on paying down the debt. “We have a $36 trillion federal debt,” Mike said. “We have a giant deficit that we’re contending with. I think we need to pay down the credit card, right?” He made it clear he doesn’t want money going out the door while the country’s financials look like this.

Preston Brashers, a tax policy fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said the checks could cause a return of serious inflation. He warned it could come back “with a vengeance.” But James pushed back. He argued that as long as the DOGE checks are “deficit-financed” and funded directly from DOGE’s savings, they shouldn’t be inflationary.

For now, the only thing certain is that DOGE isn’t producing a trillion-dollar windfall. Most Americans won’t get a check. And for those who do, it won’t be $5,000.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
What Crypto Whales are Buying For May 2025Crypto whales are making bold moves heading into May 2025, and three tokens are standing out: Ethereum (ETH), Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET), and Onyxcoin (XCN).
Author  Beincrypto
Apr 21, Mon
Crypto whales are making bold moves heading into May 2025, and three tokens are standing out: Ethereum (ETH), Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET), and Onyxcoin (XCN).
placeholder
Analysts Highlight 4 Reasons Why ETH Price Could Rebound Strongly in MayEthereum (ETH) has declined for five consecutive months. However, it enters May with rising optimism.
Author  Beincrypto
May 07, Wed
Ethereum (ETH) has declined for five consecutive months. However, it enters May with rising optimism.
placeholder
Ethereum Price Ready to Surge—$2,000 Level Could Be Within ReachEthereum price started a fresh increase above the $1,800 zone. ETH is now rising and attempting a move above the $1,850 resistance. Ethereum started a fresh recovery wave above the $1,820 resistance.
Author  NewsBTC
May 08, Thu
Ethereum price started a fresh increase above the $1,800 zone. ETH is now rising and attempting a move above the $1,850 resistance. Ethereum started a fresh recovery wave above the $1,820 resistance.
placeholder
Ethereum Price Explodes Past $2,200 with 25% Surge—Momentum Builds FastEthereum price started a fresh surge above the $2,000 zone. ETH is now up over 25% and consolidating gains near the $2,200 zone. Ethereum started a fresh surge above the $2,000 resistance.
Author  NewsBTC
May 09, Fri
Ethereum price started a fresh surge above the $2,000 zone. ETH is now up over 25% and consolidating gains near the $2,200 zone. Ethereum started a fresh surge above the $2,000 resistance.
placeholder
Bitcoin 2025 Conference Day One: How Has the Crypto Market Shifted?  The Bitcoin 2025 Conference signals strong regulatory recognition of Bitcoin in the U.S., with growing speculation that the government may increase BTC holdings.
Author  TradingKey
20 hours ago
The Bitcoin 2025 Conference signals strong regulatory recognition of Bitcoin in the U.S., with growing speculation that the government may increase BTC holdings.
goTop
quote