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 (24) :: Permalink
24 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?
says:
May 13, 2008 5:31 pm
I received my rebate however one of my children are missing so I did not get the full amount that I should have. I already sent in my amended tax return to correct the initial error I made back in February when I initially filed so I'm not sure what to do next? When I call the toll free numbers listed I can't speak with a live person. Any suggestions?
says:
May 15, 2008 10:44 pm
I received a letter saying that i can expect my stimulus payment by the 16th of May but when I called the IRS had told me that it would be mailed on that day. My last two are 48.Why did I get that letter. also when I try to use that web page Where's my stimulus check it keep telling me that I made a mistake. Are they just sending these letters out randomly?
says:
May 17, 2008 5:56 pm
I filed electronicly and owed money which was taken out of my checking account on 4/15/08. When will I get my rebate?
says:
May 18, 2008 9:45 am
i filed an amended return after i got my direct deposit. i had to send a money order for 7 dollars to cover the differance. how will i get my rebate? i didnt get the direct deposit as of now.
says:
May 21, 2008 5:22 pm
My check is not for the right amount, they did not send stimulus for my child, and for that matter didn't even issue me the full 600? I didn't owe them anything.
says:
May 22, 2008 1:06 pm
I filed an amended return and received the refund. Will I receive the stimulus payment? I called the IRS but have been put on hold each time for 20-30 minutes. Help!
says:
May 26, 2008 6:53 pm
The website for stimulus status says Irs DIRECT DEPOSITED MY REBATE ON 5/16/2008.I checked with my bank on 5/21 as they said to do 5 days after and there is nothing pending and still today 5/26/2008 i have not received my rebate. What should I do or what could be the error on whose part?
says:
May 28, 2008 10:25 am
I filed my taxes in February and got my refund via direct deposit right away. My last two are 48 and I have not received my payment. I used TaxAct Online. I did the calculator thing and it said i am owed the money...... if i didn't have any problem with direct deposit on my refund.....why did i not get it direct deposit? Is there any number i can call that I can speak to a LIVE person.... that hotline and website says they have not information at this time. I am so frustrated! Thanks
says:
May 28, 2008 7:02 pm
I like to know why some people get the stimulus payment and some don't. Some people on ssi get the checks and others don't why? I am low income and it says anyone on low income should get it,and anyone who has a ss card.
says:
June 2, 2008 1:41 pm
Our question has to do with the stimulus tax refund. Is this refund taxable by the Federal and/or State at the time we prepare our 2008 IRS tax forms.? We have received answers as follows--by Federal only; by Missouri only; both Federal and State; and the refund is non-taxable by both Federal and State. Do you have an answer so we can plan accordingly?
says:
June 2, 2008 4:00 pm
I would like to know why I could not get the stimulus payment, just because I draw an annunity. My annunity is more than the $3,000, but just because of this I was denied the stimulus check. Not fair at all.
says:
June 2, 2008 4:20 pm
To Dimetrous:
You bring up a good point. It appears a good deal of retirees will not get a stimulus, depending on what kind of income they have. Because I have limited expertise in this area I won't try to explain it. Instead, you can check out this IRS page - scroll down to the heading "Exclusions."
says:
June 9, 2008 11:27 am
The whole stimulas check stuff is bull. They are giving what they want period. They could've kept it in my opinion. We will pay it back I'm sure of it!
says:
June 10, 2008 11:54 am
Does Adjusted Gross Income include mortgage payments? Without deducting the mortgage/interest payments my gross income is above the threshhold, however, if I understand line 57, my AGI is 54K which is below the 75K threshhold, but the IRS hotline and the website said that my AGI is too high. Any insight.
says:
June 19, 2008 1:30 pm
I filed an amended return and received my refund from the IRS. I logged onto IRS.gov and checked stimulas status and they said i didnt qualify for the stimulas due to income. I only filed one w2 in feburary and then filed amended when i got the other one in. Are they just going off of the first one and then they will go off of the amended one or what? I need help
says:
June 24, 2008 2:12 pm
Is there a age limit on children filed on your 2007 tax refund for receiving tax credit? (I have a 18 yr old and I did not receive the tax credit on her.)
