Consumer Blog
More questions about tax rebates (economic stimulus payments)
Thanks to Katie's post from Thursday, we have several questions about when and how these tax rebate (or stimulus) payments will arrive.
One important note: if you got a tax refund from the IRS this year, your stimulus payment will arrive that same way. So if your tax refund was a paper check, your stimulus payment will be also. If it was directed deposited, so will be your stimulus payment.
If you owed money this year, your rebate will come as a paper check.
Now, onto your questions:
My husband and I file jointly. Will our rebate check come jointly or will each of us get a separate check?
You will get one payment. When you get it is determined by the Social Security number of the first person listed on your return. (See schedule in Katie's post, above)
When will we expect our rebate? We filed jointly and by the date that is on the computer and news we should have already received our rebate but we haven't.
Did you get a tax refund via direct deposit? If not, you will be getting it via paper, and those don't even start coming until May 16. (again, see schedule)
When they say direct deposit do they mean those who got their refund on a emerald card? If I got it on an emerald card will I receive a check or will it be on my card?
I assume you are talking about the Emerald Card prepaid debit card available to customers of H&R Block. The IRS will treat this kind of stored value card just like a bank account. If it's still active, you'll get your money direct deposited on the card. If not, the IRS' attempt at direct deposit will bounce back, and they'll send you a paper check. Unless that account number has been assigned to someone else - in that case, they will get your stimulus payment!
The IRS has a personalized page called "Where's my economic stimulus payment?" You can enter your Social Security number (safe to do) and find out what info is available about the status of your payment. The only tricky part is you have to know how many exemptions you claimed on your 2007 tax return - and I can't remember.
Technorati Tags: economic stimulus, internet, tax rebate, moagoconsumer, consumer protection
Posted by on May 5, 2008 3:47 pm :: Comments (6) :: Permalink
6 Responses to "More questions about tax rebates (economic stimulus payments)"
says:
May 5, 2008 5:39 pm
i would like to know when i shall be recieving my rebate check=)
says:
May 6, 2008 7:26 am
if my account is closed how i will i get my check an how do i let u know?
says:
May 6, 2008 10:28 am
To Nancy: See schedule (linked above)
To Jason: If you got your tax refund direct deposited, the IRS will try again to to deposit it in that same account. If it's closed, and it bounces back, the IRS will send you a paper check. However: check with your bank to see if that account number has been reassigned. If it has, then your direct deposit won't bounce back - it will go into that new account.
says:
May 7, 2008 9:32 am
Will I receive a stimulus payment if my parents claimed me on their tax returns but I am 19?
says:
May 7, 2008 10:25 am
To Hilary:
You will not receive a rebate payment if you are claimed on someone else's tax return. Here's what the IRS Web site says:
The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, which authorized the pre-payment of this one-time credit, stipulates that the payment is not to be made to any of the following:
- Individuals who can be claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return;
- Nonresident aliens; or
- Anyone who does not have a valid Social Security Number.
You can find out more about your specific situation using the IRS economic stimulus payment calculator.
says:
May 11, 2008 10:24 pm
It's not fair! My parents claimed me. I file my own tax for 2007. How come I'm not getting the rebate?
