2025 Tax Relief: Third Round Has Started — What to Do If SURI Does Not Show Your Balance

The Department of the Treasury (Hacienda) confirmed this week that the third round of Cheque para ti is in process. If you have not received yours yet, here is what you need to know — including what to do if SURI does not show your balance or the link to register your bank account.

Where is the program right now?

Secretary of the Treasury Ángel Pantoja confirmed on May 26, 2026 that the third round of tax relief payments is being processed this week. By that point, the government had already disbursed approximately $345 million to nearly 589,000 taxpayers.

The total allocated for this program is $554 million, intended to benefit about 690,000 eligible taxpayers from the working and middle classes. In other words: if you are eligible but have not received payment yet, you are very likely in the second or third round — being processed in these weeks.

Who qualifies?

Requirements are set out in Joint Resolution 6-2026. To qualify you must meet all of the following:

• Have resided in Puerto Rico for the entire 2025 calendar year
• Have taxable net income of $150,000 or less
• Have filed your 2025 return on time
• Not have elected the Optional Contribution (Schedule X)
• Not be subject to the Alternative Basic Contribution (Schedule O)

The relief applies to taxpayers with tax liability. If your return resulted in zero tax due, you may not qualify.

How much will you receive?

There is no fixed amount. The Cheque para ti calculation is based on the difference between the tax you reported on your 2025 return and what you would have paid under the reduced rates recommended in the Tax Reform — which also includes an additional $2,500 deduction per dependent age 17 or younger.

Hacienda processes the calculation automatically from your return. You do not need to do anything for the system to determine the amount.

The SURI issue: what happened and what it means for you

In mid-May, when the first check balances began appearing on the portal, many taxpayers reported on social media that SURI was failing or loading slowly. Screenshots circulated showing balances, but the system was unstable.

Hacienda did not issue an official communication explaining the failures, which added to the confusion. What matters: SURI not showing your balance does not mean you do not qualify. The system is still processing rounds in order and payments are being issued in stages.

How to check your status and register your bank account

If you did not include bank information on your 2025 return, Hacienda enabled a special link in SURI so you can add it. This is the process:

1. Log in to your account at suri.hacienda.pr.gov
2. Go to Individual – Income Tax
3. Look for 2025 Tax Relief – Add bank account
4. Complete your bank information and submit it for confirmation

Important points

• If you already received your refund by direct deposit, you do not need to do anything else — Hacienda will use that same account for the check.
• If you do not have a bank account on file, payment will arrive by mail to the address Hacienda has on record.
• Entering bank information does not guarantee eligibility. It only determines the payment method if you are eligible.
• The link to register your account will be available until October 30, 2026.

Fraud alerts: beware of unofficial messages

Hacienda warned taxpayers to be alert for fraud attempts related to the check. Some points to protect yourself:

• Hacienda will never contact you by text or WhatsApp to ask for bank information
• The only official channel is your SURI account at suri.hacienda.pr.gov
• Do not click links in unsolicited emails claiming to be from Hacienda

If you have debts with Hacienda or ASUME

Before payment reaches your account, Hacienda will first apply it to any outstanding debt you have with the agency or with ASUME (Child Support Administration). If you have active debts, the check may be applied in full or in part to those obligations.

What if you did not receive the check and believe you qualify?

For now, Hacienda has not established a formal claims process for those who believe they should have received payment and did not. If your return has already been processed and you meet the requirements, you are most likely queued for one of the pending rounds.

If you have questions about your specific situation — whether you qualify, why you have not received payment, or whether your debts could be affecting disbursement — it is best to check your return status in SURI or consult a professional who can review your case.

The information in this article is based on official communications from the Department of the Treasury and press reports as of the publication date. Program parameters may be updated. For specific situations, always consult a professional.