Get your stimulus tax rebate faster: The IRS tells how

Want to get your tax rebate faster? File your taxes early and electronically, and arrange for direct deposit.

The IRS drove home that message today when it announced its schedule for delivering economic stimulus rebates. Folks whose federal tax forms are processed by the IRS by the April 15 deadline and who arrange for direct deposit can expect their rebates to be sent to their bank accounts no later than May 16. You're more likely to have your taxes processed by April 15 if you file electronically.

The IRS will deliver stimulus payments based on the last two digits of filers' Social-Security numbers; the lower those digits, the earlier the payment. If a couple is filing jointly, the first Social Security number on the tax return is the one that counts in determining the payment schedule.

For folks whose returns are processed by April 15 and arrange for direct deposit:
Those whose last two Social-Security number digits are between 00 and 20 are expected to get the first payments, by May 2.
Those with last digits between 21 and 75 should get their payments by May 9.
Those with last digits between 76 and 99 should get theirs by May 16.

In contrast, the IRS says it will begin to send out paper checks on May 16, even for early filers. The agency says it expects to send out the last checks to on-time filers by July 11. You may have to wait a few days extra for the checks to reach your mailbox.

If there's a problem with processing your return, your payment--whether by direct deposit or paper check--could be delayed beyond those target dates. And anyone filing for an extension will have to wait for their rebate for at least two weeks after they get their refund.

IRS spokesman Eric Smith notes that by filing electronically, you can expect your rebate from two weeks to two months sooner than if you filed by mail. Even if you owe the government, you can file now and arrange for payment on April 15; that way, even with no refund, you'll get your rebate faster.

"If you've never tried electronic filing, this is the year to do it," Smith told us. "If you're getting a refund, you'll get it sooner. If you're getting a rebate, you'll really get it sooner."

While you're waiting for the rebate, try the IRS's new economic stimulus payment calculator to determine how large a rebate you'll get. To do a proper estimate, you'll need to have filled out your 2007 Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ.

Comments

[Main]

When I filed my taxes, my wife and I filed jointly and I was head of household. I decided to do direct deposit, but at the time, I did not have my back information present so I had to use my wife bank information to process the direct deposit. For the Stimulus tax rebate, is there any way I can have the rebate deposit into my account or have it mailed directly to me.

[Tobie Stanger (Consumer Reports)]

I believe it is too late to make a change now. Check this URL and scroll to: "When and How."

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179181,00.html

[Tammy Williams]

My ex-husband is behind on his child support and the IRS sent me his tax refund. Will they also send me his rebate?

[Art]

Q. I chose direct deposit for my 2007 tax refund but also requested a Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL) from my preparer. How does that affect my stimulus payment?

A. Taxpayers who use RALs or enter into any other loan or financial agreement with their tax professional cannot receive their stimulus payments by Direct Deposit and instead will get a paper check.

Q. Can my stimulus payment be directly deposited onto a stored value card or debit card where a bank product such as a RAL/RAC is not involved?

A. No. [New 4/14/08]

[Julie]

Since the first set of direct deposits was not suppose to go out until Friday and it was sent out early, will all direct deposits be sent out early?

[dj]

I had my tax return direct deposited to my bank account. I no longer have a checking account. Will my rebate check be mailed to me and if so, how long will it take?

[Mona]

I used hr block simple pay w direct deposit, will i still receive my rebate direct deposit?

[Steph]

I filed via direct deposit; however, due to new bank changes I had closed my account back in February. How do I update the new bank info or will the IRS automatically send out an actual check? Thanks.

[steve]

what i dont get is this, the way it works is the system for the IRS goes by the Direct Deposit info on your E-file tax return right? well the Direct deposit info on my tax return is for the emrerald card and i use the SAME routing info for my payroll check at work and that makes it, so i dont see WHY it wouldnt go there, i didnt get an RAL/RAC from H&R, so wouldnt the IRS system see my routing info as a bank routing and it should go straight to my card correct?

im seriously mad if thats not the case, when i did my taxes i had just moved and was switching banks, i woulda held out 2 days and waited till i got my new bank account and just set it up to go there. instead they said id get my stimulus on the card so i said okay, no prob.

bastards at hr are jerks if i dont get this money. :(

[Tracy]

When we originally filed our 1040 we chose direct deposit..because the college credit forms were not available at that time, we had to file a 1040x..the refund from the 1040x was not direct deposited (we received a paper check) How will we receive our stimulus?

[Tobie Stanger (Consumer Reports)]

Mona,

I don't know anything about this product, but if it is considered a refund anticipation loan (RAL), your rebate will not be direct deposited. You will instead receive a check.

[Tobie Stanger (Consumer Reports)]

Steph:

It is too late to update your bank info now. When the IRS tries to direct-deposit your refund and rebate, it will notice the rejection from your bank and send you checks.

[Camesha]

I filed my taxes with Jackson Hewitt, but I received a refund check from them in a week. They never informed me of direct deposit. Will I get a chek delivered through my email or will it get sent to Jackson Hewitt. I got my refund pretty quickly.

[Tobie Stanger (Consumer Reports)]

Tracy,

My guess is that since the first check was mailed, the stimulus payment also will be mailed.

[Tobie Stanger (Consumer Reports)]

Camesha,

Check with Jackson Hewitt, but I would assume the rebate would be mailed directly to you.

[amanda k]

i got my money on the emerald card will i get my stimulus on there?

[Tobie Stanger (Consumer Reports)]

If you got your refund through a refund anticipation loan, you will not get your rebate direct deposited on your Emerald Card. Here's what the H&R Block spokesperson told me:

If you had your taxes prepared at an H&R Block tax office and had your federal tax refund put on the Emerald Card, you WILL receive a Direct Deposit of the Tax Rebate Payment on the Emerald Card account.

However, The Emerald Card will not be considered a viable account for Direct Deposit IF you received a bank product that involved a temporary bank account with the Card. Bank products include Refund Anticipation Loans, Refund Anticipation Checks, Simple Pay, and other settlement products.

If you received your federal tax refund on the Emerald Card through a temporary bank product such as those listed above, you will receive your Tax Rebate payment as a mailed check from the IRS.

[amanda k]

is a anticipation loan when you get it in 1 to 2 days. because i think i got it in 1 day. not the same day i did my taxes. the next day

[Tobie Stanger (Consumer Reports)]

Yes, it sounds like you had an RAL. You would not get a refund that fast directly from the IRS.

[lacy lucas]

i have a question well my last number is 15 but my husband is 41 so who number does go by mine or his?

[Tracy]

In regards to my previous question:
When we originally filed our 1040 we chose direct deposit..because the college credit forms were not available at that time, we had to file a 1040x..the refund from the 1040x was not direct deposited (we received a paper check) How will we receive our stimulus?

I guess I wasn't very clear..we received our original refund direct deposit, then, we did the 1040x and that refund came to us in a paper check. I'm assuming, then, that they will go with the way they paid us last??? Please help!!

[Dawn]

my husband and i filed jointly early and electronically filed. i hear that the first set of rebate checks have been sent out. my husbands last 2 digits are 05 yet there is nothing in our checking account should we be concerned? we owe nothing that the IRS would confiscate our money so i'm wondering where it is.

[pam b]

my husband and i filed through h&r block for our federal taxes and had our refund put on the emerald card. i have read your
cmments about the stimulas rebate being deposited on the emerald cards. my problem is that i cut up and through away the card after we used our federal tax money.. i had no idea the stimulas rebate would be deposited on it. is there any way i can get a new card. h&r block has been no help.
thank you

[connie]

i filed on jan 7th and had my refund deposited on the H&R BLOCK EMERALD CARD now on my return papers, it says that the EMERALD card is a checking account and was direct deposit..is that concidered a direct deposit so i can have my rebate by may 9th?

[Amanda]

I filed my taxes online through HR BLOCK and had gotten them direct deposited into my checking account. I received a DCN number from HR Block after filing them online. Will I receive a paper check or will I still get direct deposit?