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

[Tobie Stanger (Consumer Reports)]

Michael:

If you got a refund anticipation loan or used another product or process that involved a third-party bank, your rebate will be mailed. This is also true if you subtracted your tax-prep and/or electronic filing fees from your refund. The worksheet on IRS.gov might also help:

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=181665,00.html

[Tia]

Well the bottom line is if you received your direct deposit via any third party and then it was deposited into your checking account, you will receive a paper check. The 3rd party bank's routing and account number ( Santa Barbara for Turbo Tax)is what the IRS has and they are unable to process these stimulus refunds as a direct deposit for you. The IRS never had access to your bank information. It would have been very helpful if the IRS had not globally made the impression that direct deposit by any means=direct deposit for the stimulus check. And to add to the pain was that they hyped everyone up that they were ahead of schedule with the deposits. Truthfully? They found themselves ahead when they realized that the majority of recipients would not receive a direct deposit!!!!

[Jeff]

I used TaxAct.com to do my taxes. I had to pay a little to both Federal and State and had it withdrawn from my account electronically. I should've been in the first batch since my ssn ends with 15, will I be getting a check since I didn't receive a refund?

[Tracy]

If anyone is interested, here is an automated line to call about your rebate..it will let you put in your ssn and give you the amount you will be receiving and when/how it will get to you...1-866-234-2942

[martin]

thank you john scott for sharing your info!

[Brian]

I filed my 2007 taxes electronically. My refund was electronically deposited into my bank account. However, I have since closed my bank account. I understand once the IRS receives a rejection notice after attempting to deposit the rebate in my old account that they will print a check to be mailed. My question is there a timeframe on when I should get my check in the mail? Will it be mailed immediately after rejection notification or later with the other printed rebate checks.

Thanks.

[Vicki]

Good Question Brian, I was wondering the same thing myself. I seen on
another post, that if they tried, and it was rejected, they were running about 3 weeks late from the deposit they tried, and to be in the mail after the rejection, in around 3 weeks, but I am not for sure if it is true or not. Would be nice though . Hopefully it is true, cause me ,have to wait till the end of June. Hopefully soon.

[John]

Hi -

I was informed by the IRS about a month ago that I owe $3000 in back taxes for 2006 for not properly filing 1099s for freelance work (a stupid oversight on my part). I had assumed that my rebate would be applied to my back taxes, but I just received a direct deposit from the IRS for my rebate. Is this a mistake by the IRS, or is it the way the rebates are being done (ie, regardless of any back taxes)? I have yet to set up a payment plan for the back taxes...

Thanks,
John

[cat]

wondering if anyone has received a paper check by mail yet? If so do you know what day it was mailed and how many days it took to receive it? Just curious/mine was suppose to go out today so trying to find out about what time frame I am looking at? Thanks, I would appreciate anyones info that could help me out.

[Donna]

I looked at my tax return that h&r block sent to the IRS and now i know for sure because i took the Ral and it went on my emerald card,i will be getting paper check not DD,because on my refund were it says direct deposit info i checked and it's not my routing number nor my account number to my emerald card ,it must be the banks or h&r blocks.So that is why people that took the Ral will not be getting DD because the IRS dose not have are routing number or are account number.Sad thing is when i filed my tax and for the Ral i ended up having an offset of 100.00 and did not get my refund for 3 weeks but still had to pay fees to that bank for Ral.Now "NO" check for me until July 11 last # 93.

[G. Desroches]

How will I get my stimulus rebate if I used Turbo Tax and had my 2007 Rebate direct deposit, they use Santa Barbara Bank & Trust in CA? Will I get direct deposit or a paper check?

[P.Hazelip]

Very similar to G. Desroches post about turbo tax and the bank in Santa Barbara except we had to file a 1040X online with them. Any advice, ideas, or general help??? I think a lot of the folks in the middle class working population are really counting on this money for bills, vacations, and an assortment of other needs/wants hope for not getting shammed...

[Lorin]

I don't get to use my children as dependents, but the do live with me (I have custody). My ex gets them as dependents. However, his income will not allow him to get this stimulus check, but mine does. My accountant did not fill in any information about my kids. so does this mean, that the $600 for my two children is lost forever?

[Tobie Stanger (Consumer Reports)]

Lorin,

Good question. I believe you have to claim the children as dependents in order to get the stimulus payments for them.

If you could claim them on your 2008 return when you file next year, you could get the rebate next year. That would be your last chance.

[nicole]

It says I should have my money by the 9th, I did direct deposit, I filed early, my social #'s fall into the may 9th cat. But I have NOT got the money!

[rashanda m]

i used turbotax to electronically file my taxes and the last 2 of my ssn are 46, but did not recieve my money on may 9, but i was told since i paid for my taxes to get filed from a portion of my taxes then this automatically makes me inegible for DD???? Can anyone tell me if this is true?

[Tracy]

My stimulus check was mailed out May 9th and I received it May 12th. It appears that the mailing time is very short!

[KERTESHIA]

have anyone received a paper stimulus check yet

[Kyajai]

I talked with a representative on the IRS Stimulas Hotline today and she explained the following: If you filed with Turbo Tax and had DD and paid the fees directly on your personal credit card you will have your rebate DD, however, if you filed with Turbo Tax and had your fees deducted from your federal income tax return then you will have to wait for a paper check to be mailed. In addition your tax return had to have been received no later than 15 April 08 to have it processed by the scheduled Stimulus date. Check your tax return date on the turbo tax or HR block site to see when it was actually submitted this could also be the cause for a delay.

[Kyajai]

Dependent Children must be claimed by the eligible tax payer for you to be eligible to recieve the additional rebate for the children for this year, however, you may be able to claim the children on next years return and receive your stimulus rebate. Go to irs.gov to check on this, I beleive there will be a section on the 2008 Tax Form that will allow this.

[mike]

I filed my tax return with H&R block, And got my refund check at H&R block.
will my stimulus rebate check be mailed to me or H&R block?

[Pete]

We filed electronically and received our Refund via direct deposit. I realized a mistake was made and that I needed to file an amendment.
Although I asked for the Amended refund to be direct deposited it was not. I received a Paper check on the Amended amount. How will the Stimulus Check come?

Pete

[joe]

I am a %100 disabled veteran and also collect social security.I don't have to pay taxes, but did file this year for the stimulas rebate. My wife does not have an income, so how much will we get back?

[mathew]

Ok i understand that because i filed with Jackson Hewitt and did an RAl it will be mailed to me do to a third party back being used for direct deposit. My question is will the check be mailed based on the rejection from the account or will it now fall under my last 2 digits of my social.

[Sandy]

We filed electronically early using turbotax and our refund was electronically placed in our account, yet I received an email to day saying my stimulus payment will be sent out by check. What's up with that.