There are several reasons why some people will not receive a tax rebate check. Invalid Social Security numbers and outstanding IRS tax debts are two culprits.
Wading through the tax rebate information provided by the IRS can be time-consuming and confusing. Most people simply want to know if they are eligible for a tax rebate and how much the rebate will be.
Who Does Not Qualify for a 2008 Tax Rebate from the IRS
Individuals without a valid Social Security number. An individual taxpayer identification number, or ITIN, does not count.
Individuals with less than $3,000 of reportable income (qualifying or otherwise).
High income taxpayers. Beginning at adjusted gross incomes of $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for married couples, the tax rebate phases out by 5% of the amount of income over the AGI limit.
Nonfilers in 2007. No 2007 tax return = no rebate.
Dependents claimed on another person’s return. The individual filing the return will receive rebates for any qualifying dependents claimed.
Filers of Forms 1040NR, 1040PR, and 1040SS. This includes non-resident aliens, residents of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Residents of U.S. territories will receive economic stimulus payments, but not from the U.S. government; their respective local governments will distribute payments.
One Reason the IRS Won’t Mail a Rebate Check: Outstanding IRS Tax Debt
Individuals should be aware that even if they qualify for a 2008 tax rebate, they will not receive a check if they owe the IRS money. The rebate will be used to offset any outstanding IRS tax debt.
Key Points to Remember about 2008 Economic Stimulus Payments
The IRS will determine eligibility and calculate tax rebate amounts based on 2007 tax returns.
Individuals will receive a notice in the mail with the amount they can expect to receive as well as a timetable for receipt.
Economic stimulus payments will be mailed out beginning in May 2008.
Individuals who paid tax in 2007 are eligible for maximum rebates of $600 per person ($1,200 if married, filing jointly) as well as $300 per qualifying child.
Individuals who didn’t owe tax in 2007, but filed a return only to report qualifying income of $3,000 or more can expect to receive a $300 rebate check (or $600 if married, filing jointly) plus $300 for each qualifying child.
Anyone who is expecting a rebate check, but moved since filing their tax return should update their mailing address on file with the IRS.
Free Tax Assistance
The IRS sponsors free tax assistance programs in local communities throughout the United States. Many individuals who qualify for tax rebates are also eligible for free tax preparation assistance through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.
The copyright of the article 2008 Tax Rebate Information in Personal Tax Planning is owned by Lena Gott. Permission to republish 2008 Tax Rebate Information must be granted by the author in writing.
HELLO REGUARDING THE STIMULUS REBATE. I WAS UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT ANYONE THAT FILED A 2007 TAX RETURN WOULD RECIEVE SOME SORT OF A REBATE. MYSELF I AM MARRIED WITH THREE CHILDREN. I MADE JUST UNDER 40000 THIS YEAR. WHEN I CHECKED THE STIMULUS CALCULATOR I WAS TOLD I QUALIFIED FOR 2100 DOLLARS. HOWEVER I SHOULD HAVE RECIEVED MY REBATE AND HAVENT. SO I CALLED THE IRS AND SPOKE TO A MS. GLOVENS. FIRST SHE TOLD ME IF YOU USED H N R BLOCKS TAX CUT AND HAD THE E FILE CHARGE TAKEN OUT OF YOUR RETURN IT COULD DELAY YOUR REBATE BECAUSE THE IRS DIDNT LIKE ANYONE TO CHOOSE THAT OPTION. THEN I WAS TOLD I WOULDNT RECIEVE A REBATE AT ALL BECAUSE MY CHILD TAX CREDIT MADE IT SO I DIDNT PAY ANY TAXES THIS YEAR. THIS DIDNT MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME I DIDNT RECIEVE A VERY LARGE RETURN THIS YEAR. IT JUST SEEMS TO ME IF I DIDNT GET ONE. THAT MORE THAN HALF OF THE COUNTRY WOULD BE EXCLUDED ALSO. MY INCOME AND RETURN WAS CLOSE TO AVERAGE.
May 7, 2008 9:27 AM
Guest
:
Good news .... our rebate arrived in our bank account .... but wait .. the bad news is that instead of the $1200 for MFJ .. (and owing no outstanding tax debt) we received the odd amount of $453.51. Not quite sure why ... I worked 10 months last year .. paid taxes, etc. My husband and I are both receiving Social Security .. so I'm not quite sure how the government came up with $453.51 .. It's money we didn't have last week, but why not the full amount?
May 7, 2008 7:49 AM
Guest
:
A couple making 160,000 a year will not recieve a 1200 rebate. If you're single and make over 75,000 or married and filing jointly making over 150,000 your payment is lowered by 5% of the amount if income you made over these cutoffs. So a couple making 160,000 a year made 10,000 over the cut off, multiply that by 5% you get 500. Now subtract that from the 1200 you are assuming they get leaving you with a rebate of 700 dollars, or 350 per person. This is only IF they qualified for the max rebate of 600 per person which is highly unlikeley unless they have a few children. People making this income would probably only qualify for a joint rebate of 600, meaning after you do the math they would only see 100, or 50 per person. It is sad that those paying the most amount of taxes and taking care of the low income "breeders" can't ever get a break. It's not our fault that people are poverty stricken when they could go to college, most likely for free, because of all the grants that are NOT available to students who actually are responsible and don't spit out 4 children before their 18th birthday. Get educated and get a higher paying job before you ask us to feel sorry for you only making 14,000 a year. Also, to the person who referred to America as "this sorry, sorry sorry country", why don't you go live somewhere else and make yourself less of a burden on our economy.
May 5, 2008 10:11 PM
Guest
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I got my rebate today. And what a joke. I didn't even get enough to fill up my gas tank. And I am not joking. I thought the refund would some what in line of how much I pay in taxes. No such luck. The only people that would benefit are the poor with 12 kids. They should really call this Tax Stimulus Rebate "the breeder rebate" instead. They are the ONLY people that can benefit. And get this, I'll wind up paying even more tax in the near future to pay for this mess.
May 5, 2008 5:02 PM
Guest
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The people will stand up to this horribly corrupt government if it doesn't change its ways....its only a matter of time
Which side will you be on?
May 5, 2008 3:41 PM
Guest
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can some explain to me why the upper middle class get the most money? a married couple making 160,000 can get a rebate of 1,200 and a single person with 2 children making 22,000 after child care tax will recieve $900. The couple making $160,000 don't need the money. The working class poor will still suffer in this sorry, sorry sorry, country.
May 5, 2008 9:17 AM
Guest
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Rebate check can be taken for owed taxes or back loans.
May 5, 2008 3:22 AM
Guest
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what is up with you idiots thinking low income people are spending there money on junk um get it low income they dont make alot of money to spend you try surviving on 14,000 a year
you people make me sick
May 3, 2008 9:50 PM
Guest
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i recieved a amount of 325 in my debit accout on the 2nd of May. i was wondering if that would be my rebate return??
May 2, 2008 6:58 PM
Guest
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Hi i am a single mother of 3 and is the only one making income and i wanted to know if i qualified for a tax rebate and claimed my daughter who is 18 and a full time college student using my income for college will i still get the additional 300 per child? I read a part in the tax rebate qualification and it said that it is an age up to 17 is this true.
