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Where, oh where is my tax-rebate check?

Posted Jun 02 2008, 04:34 PM by Karen Datko
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We're in the same boat as "PT" at Prime Time Money. Our tax-rebate check has yet to arrive.

Just like PT, we thought our rebate would be direct-deposited into our checking account on May 9, based on our Social Security number and the IRS payment schedule. So, like PT, we dug a little deeper to find out where it could be.

Since the date we expected the check has already passed, we tried the handy "Where's My Stimulus Payment" tool and got this response: "We are sorry. Specific information about your Stimulus Payment is not available." It also said this: "Specific information about your Stimulus Payment will not be available until about one week before your payment is scheduled to be sent." So we know it's not going to arrive in our account this week.

What's going on?

PT notes that the IRS site says the payment schedule applies only if the IRS processed your tax return before April 15. Also, the schedule seems to apply only if you're getting a refund. (We owed Uncle Sam, and so did PT.) The IRS says: "If you are not expecting a regular tax refund, your stimulus payment generally should arrive a minimum of six weeks after you file."

The IRS also provides yet another reason to explain why the check's not in the mail (snail or otherwise). The IRS site says: "A small percentage of tax returns will require additional time to process and to compute a stimulus payment amount. For these returns, stimulus payments may not be issued in accordance with the schedule above, even if the tax return was processed by April 15."

We asked one other question, and so did PT: Are we getting direct deposit or is the check coming via U.S. mail? The IRS says that if you used direct debit to pay what you owed, but didn't also provide direct-deposit information with your tax return, your economic-stimulus payment will come through the mail. Yikes. It looks like we're not getting our check until late June.

Think there may be another reason why you haven't received a payment? Read Heather Johnson's post at Tax Daddy for other possible explanations.

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Comments

 

My husband and I are just divorced for about a month,now.Both of us get SSI and he gets SS,as well.We have a son,19,who is handicapped.Because he refuses to talk to me,I don't know if he filed a tax return or not.(He worked for awhile last year).How do I know if our son and I qualify for the stimulus check?

Fubarella (Posted 06.03.08 8:02 AM ) Report Abuse

We're in the same boat.  But ours is because we filed an amended return.  Hubby and I just got married last year.  We filed in early Feb, like I always do, electronically.  Then, in late March we received info from a trust that hubby has that we forgot about.  Filed amended like good taxpayers, before April 15th (even though you have 2 years to amend your return).  Since we did that, our return is not in limbo somewhere, waiting to be looked at.  We've no idea when our stimulus check is due.  Which is really horrible, seeing as how between the two of us, we have 4 children.

Shoulda waited until after we got the stimulus check to amend the darn thing.  That'll teach us to be honest.  LOL.

M.B. (Posted 06.03.08 8:33 AM ) Report Abuse

TO: FUBARELLA

Here is the number that is on my letter from the IRS about my stimulus check. It is for assistance and may be of some help to you.

1-866-234-2942

Hope this helps..

Lee (Posted 06.03.08 11:35 AM ) Report Abuse

I guess the IRS is feeling bad about keeping my stimulus check, they say I owe taxes from 2001 ( iwas unemployed at the time), so to make it up they've sent me 3 other people's stimulus checks instead. I wonder if I can get a finder's fee? ; p

Ohimesama (Posted 06.03.08 12:25 PM ) Report Abuse

We too filed an amended return because Turbo Tax told me there was an additional tax credit that went into effect in February that would give us an additional $100.  You can only file an amended return by mail which the IRS says it received my return 3 weeks after I actually mailed it.  Long story short, they cant tell me when my return will be processed or if my check will be direct deposit as my original refund was or by mail because we filed an amended return.  I was also told by more than one IRS representative that because the people who are processing the refunds are the ones who have to answer "All of our calls so they cant get their work done".

CG (Posted 06.03.08 12:32 PM ) Report Abuse

I actually called the IRS to see where my $$ was (as I too was to receive on May 9th) and they indicated that my bank actually rejected the direct deposit and were mailing my check to me on 5/23.  Still not sure why my bank rejected (or if that really was the case)...I had my bank investigate and they said no deposits were sent during that timeframe.  So although I received my check the whole thing remains a mystery.

Tracy (Posted 06.03.08 12:39 PM ) Report Abuse

I do owe student loans, but have been paying on them regularly.  Because it is more than what I would be getting for my stimulus payment, does that really mean I won't be getting a check?  I didn't read anything about the student loan thing.

SKD (Posted 06.03.08 12:52 PM ) Report Abuse

No Republican vote-purchase for me either, even tho I filed in February & used Direct Deposit.

Just got a refund in March, well ahead of their capricious deadline.

I haveta wonder how many of those who didn't get a "rebate" are registered Democrats.

Naw, that's just paranoid, our Federal government has never harmed anyone that didn't agree with 'em :^/

Mairi G (Posted 06.03.08 1:20 PM ) Report Abuse

The nice part is, since I am able to find the people whose checks they've sent to me, I am able to deliver them to the people who were supposed to get them. I live in a small town and I just call so-and-so and ask 'do you know this person?' and they can tell me exactly where to find them or if they still live in the area. So I go and deliver their mail. It's nice to see the looks on their faces when I hand them checks worth "thousands of dollars" ( I assume) - I feel like I should carry balloons, etc. (No purchase necessary!)

I am their new BFF!

ohimesama (Posted 06.03.08 1:24 PM ) Report Abuse

SKD:

I have student loans and received my check from the IRS as promised. I think what was meant was that if you were in default on your student loans the IRS would withhold your stimulus check.

Lisa (Posted 06.03.08 1:32 PM ) Report Abuse

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