« A Valentine For You | Main | Why We Don't Celebra... »
 

Entry bubble Tax Rebates for Americans

By: Sommer | February 15, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

Tax Refund Check Envelope


Tax season this year is the most exciting one for me and my husband yet since we’ll itemize so we can take our first ever mortgage interest deduction. And, in May we’ll be among the millions of Americans who will also receive the famed tax rebate checks the government has talked about for the last month.

In order to qualify, Americans will have had to file their 2007 tax returns. The IRS will then use your return to determine your eligibility for the rebate. They anticipate that singles with incomes under $75,000 will receive a maximum of $600 and for married people with incomes under $150,000 the checks will max out at $1,200. Households will also receive $300 additional for each dependent child under 17. Low-income Americans and beneficiaries of certain government programs have special eligibility.

Keep your eyes open for fraud since this new rebate provides the perfect opportunity for scamsters to take advantage of the unsuspecting public. The IRS will not call or email taxpayers about these payments! If you receive a scam email forward it to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. Remember that the IRS will only contact you by mail about these payments.

Now that we’ve got business taken care of, I want to know what you’re planning to do with your check. Will you go on a vacation, invest it, use it to pay off debt or something else? We’re planning to use ours to start a college savings plan for our new son.

| View Comments [23] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: family   irs   money   rebate   refund   sommer   taxes  

Comments (23):

blue comment bubble Posted by Citizen Jmaximus on February 15, 2008 at 07:45 AM EST

The IRS will not call or email taxpayers about these payments? Hmmm, I wonder if I owed them money instead would the IRS call or write me about that?

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by mbc on February 15, 2008 at 08:56 AM EST

This rebate comes at a perfect time for me since I was planning a 2-week vacation and was going to have to pull some money from savings to do it!

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by Terry on February 20, 2008 at 12:08 PM EST

I filed my taxes at http://www.efile.com and it looks like I'll be getting my refund soon. :) make way for the hidef tv


They also had an interesting article about when the Stimulus payments are going to be mailed:
http://www.efile.com/news/articles/stimulus-package.asp

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by Tahoe on February 25, 2008 at 07:33 AM EST

I encourage all recipients of the refund check to either pay down their debt or save the refund. While this will not be much of an economic stimulus, it will put you in a better financial positions. It's time that we all start sacrificing our material "wants" for the strength of our personal financial situation. The more you spend on money on "wants", the more you finance the foreign economies that are putting you and your country further into debt.

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by Ednbet on March 10, 2008 at 10:31 AM EDT

Question: will this tax rebate have to be declared as 2008 income on our tax return next year and will we have to pay income tax on it??
If this is the case I would not be surprised if it is then called a "loan" and we have to pay interest on it!!

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by Joanne on March 10, 2008 at 11:53 AM EDT

I did some reading on the IRS website and they say that you will not owe tax on your payment when you file your 2008 federal income tax return. The stimulus payment will not reduce your refund or increase the amount you owe when you file your 2008 return. If you want to learn more about the details of when and how and what to do to get your tax rebate, visit the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=177937,00.html

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by wha?? on April 25, 2008 at 07:39 PM EDT

this is a ludicrous plan

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by antonia.flores @att.net on April 27, 2008 at 09:34 PM EDT

If I do qualify for this rebate, I will use it to pay off debt. Gas prices are so high that It will come at a great time. Do head of households with dependants qualify. How do I find out.

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by Nicole on April 28, 2008 at 09:26 AM EDT

Yes, those who filed as Head of Household do qualify for the rebate checks. You can find more information on the IRS website, http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179166,00.html.

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by Patrick on April 30, 2008 at 02:14 PM EDT

I just recieved my return of $1200 and was expecting $1800. Does anyone know why i would not get the full amount. I am married and filled jointly and also have 2 kids. My wife did not work last year but did collect unemployment so I thought that might be it. If anyone knows please let me know

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by Nicole on April 30, 2008 at 02:56 PM EDT

Hi, Patrick. Your rebate check will depend on several factors including your Adjusted Gross Income. You can view several scenarios for married couples here: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179164,00.html. You might also want to try the Economic Stimulus Payment Calculator: http://www.irs.gov/app/espc/.

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by ROBERTM3208@YAHOO,COM on May 01, 2008 at 08:12 PM EDT

IF I OWE BACK TAXES, WILL I STILL RECIEVE A REFUND?

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by Gov Gab Editor on May 02, 2008 at 11:42 AM EDT

Hi there, Robert M. According to some FAQ answers I found on the IRS website (http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=182003,00.html), if you owe taxes, what you owe can be taken out of the refund. If anything is left from the rebate after the IRS has collected what you owe, you'll receive the remainder. If the IRS uses your refund to pay your back taxes, they'll send you a letter to let you know.

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by mkinner on May 02, 2008 at 03:21 PM EDT

I have been hearing that if you used a tax preparer or e filed and had your fees taken from your refund you will get a paper check! Is this true?

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by shelly on May 02, 2008 at 07:08 PM EDT

Just wanted to let people who filed using Taxact and chose a ERD or ERC or RAL your checks will be mailed per the IRS Stimulus Hotline.

I had chose direct deposit and did an ERD with Taxact, because Taxact using Republic Bank and Trust Company as a "third party" company for tax refund processing the IRS can not send your stimulus checks via direct deposit it must be sent via paper check.

I thought I was getting my rebate today via direct deposit since my last 2 digits is "19", but now it will not come until May 30th.

This needs to be made clear, because I did not get a RAL as mentioned on the site.

Oh well..thought I would pass along

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by veronica on May 02, 2008 at 09:52 PM EDT

when are we going to get our rebates?

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by Douglas on May 04, 2008 at 12:21 PM EDT

A retired Federal Employee who has performed other outside work, but does not have enough quarters to qualify for social security payments has only his federal pension to rely on. Would such a person be entitled to the rebate based solely on his pension, without social security benefits?

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by nanaj05@peoplepc.com on May 04, 2008 at 01:47 PM EDT

I just checked our bank account and found a $600 deposit, which I assme is our rebate. I'm cofused, I thought coples filing jointly would receive $1200 refund. My husband worked during 2007 but I didn't. Is that why we only received the $600?
Julie

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by gatorade on May 05, 2008 at 07:56 AM EDT

does anyone know or have an idea of the last 2 digits of soc. the rebates checks are up to

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by Shagans on May 05, 2008 at 10:56 AM EDT

I owe another state 648.00 I just found out so will they mail me the remainder of my stimulus rebate or will it be direct deposited like my tax return. I filed thru Tax Act but with NO ral or anything?

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by erica077 on May 05, 2008 at 04:28 PM EDT

hi, i filed my tax thru h r block and received my returned thru the h r block emerald visa card, so when or if i do get the rebate will it automatically be put on the card or receive a check? i was told that it would be on the h r block emerald visa card...i'm puzzled...

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by Nicole on May 06, 2008 at 10:04 AM EDT

Hello Gov Gab readers. For all those who want to know how much they will receive and when they will receive it, the IRS has created a new tool to find the status of your rebate check. Copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/irfof/IRServlet?app=IRACTC. The tool will tell you exactly how much you will receive, when it will be sent, and whether it will be electronically deposited or mailed.

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by norman on May 07, 2008 at 12:25 AM EDT

I FILLED MY TAX RETURN WITH USEING TURBO TAX WITH DIRECT DEPOSIT, THEY TOOK OUT A FEE FOR THERE SEVICE, DOES ANY ONE KNOW IF I WILL GET A PAPER CHECK OR direct deposited INTO MY ACCOUNT

Comment Permalink