Money Blue Book

It’s that time of the year again and it’s looming large. April 15, tax day – the day we take our hard earned money and pay our annual emperor’s tribute to Uncle Sam and the United States government. For most working people, April 15 day is the deadline for filing our tax returns to claim the tax refunds that were withheld by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in excess for most of the year. This year is extra special since there’s an extra bonus and incentive twist waiting for us. This year we have the 2008 economic stimulus stimulus rebate qualification to contend with.

The IRS has already stated that taxpayers who wish to receive their tax rebate payment in timely accordance with the official tax rebate payment schedule must file by April 15, 2008. Currently, the economic stimulus rebate will be issued according to the last two digits of the primary tax filer’s Social Security Number. People who chose to receive their tax refunds via direct deposit will enjoy speedy priority and will be among the first to receive the payments starting May 2 and lasting until May 16. For those of you who chose the slower paper check option, your stimulus payment check won’t get to you until the direct deposit crowd have gotten theirs. Paper checks won’t be sent out until May 16, and lasting all the way into July 11.

How Do I Request An Extension To File My Federal Income Tax Return?

If for whatever reason you cannot file your 2007 return by the due date, you may be able to get an automatic 6 month extension of time to file. The official directions to filing for a tax return extension and information about related late filing penalties are located on the IRS website. Essentially, you must file Form 4868 Application For Automatic Extension Of Time To File U.S. Income Tax Return by the tax filing due date, usually April 15. A granted extension will allow you to file your income tax return by the later date of October 15, 2008. Note that special rules may apply if you are living outside the United States, or out of the country when the filing extension expires, or if you are serving in a combat zone such as Iraq or Afghanistan. Be sure to file on time or request a proper time extension. If you don’t, the IRS will slap interest and penalties on your unpaid tax liability.

However, you must be aware that any grant of extension of time to file your return does not grant you any extension of time to pay your tax liability. This means even if you are permitted to file past April 15, 2008, you must still pay your estimated tax liability by that date. Those who owe taxes must make reasonable payment when they file the extension either by mailing a check or by making an electronic money transfer. If you don’t make payment by April 15, beware the mighty wrath of the IRS. If you do not submit payment for at least 90% of your total tax bill, factoring all prior tax withholdings, estimated payments, and additional payments, the IRS will hit you with an interest and penalty stick – and it’s a big one. You will be charged late payment interest and late payment penalties for each month the unpaid tax liability remains outstanding, up to a whopping 25% penalty of the total unpaid tax liability!

For those of you who reasonably anticipate a tax refund, you don’t have to worry about penalties, although by dragging it out you are essentially giving the IRS an interest free loan.

When Will Those Who Request An Income Tax Filing Extension Receive Their Tax Rebate Checks?

Unlike most of the usual governmental knuckle and foot dragging we usually see, the IRS is actually under substantial pressure and governmental poking to get these tax rebate direct deposits and payment checks out as soon as possible. The whole point of the rebate is to get them into the hands of Americans so we can start pumping some fast cash into our battered economy that’s already showing sickly signs of a recession (yes I think we are already in one). As such, even if you were to request a filing extension, I don’t anticipate the IRS waiting too long to send you your economic stimulus payment.

However, as tax rebate checks will only be sent beginning in May to taxpayers who timely filed their income tax returns, filing for an extension will inevitably delay your rebate payment as the IRS will not issue rebate checks for a taxpayer unless and until a 2007 federal income tax return has been filed. The IRS has indicated that people who file income tax returns after April 15 and receive a refund can expect to receive their economic stimulus payments in about two weeks after receiving their tax refunds, but not before the date they would have received their payment if the return had been processed by April 15, 2008. Despite the IRS’ somewhat ambiguity on the timetable of tax rebates for extension filers, I think taking into consideration the urgency of these rebates, those who file their tax returns as post-April 15 extensions should expect to receive their tax rebates within a month after their returns have been filed.

Remember, if you want to receive your economic stimulus rebate payment before the end of the year, you must file your tax return by the 6 month extension deadline of Oct. 15, 2008 at the very latest. If you delay and file your tax return after the extension deadline, you may need to rely on the tax rebate amendment option when you file your 2008 income tax form on April 15, 2009.

When I went downstairs to the mailboxes to check my mail today, I discovered a letter in my slot with the ominous letters “IRS” and the trademark federal eagle logo stamped on it. My heart immediately skipped a beat. Was I being audited? But then I thought again – that wouldn’t make any sense – I hadn’t even filed my 2007 federal tax return yet.

I looked at the envelope more closely – the red lettering advertised the contents of the envelope as an important message from the IRS on the economics stimulus act of 2008 and implored me not to throw it away. Looks like I finally received one of those notorious notice letters that the IRS spent $42 million to issue. For $42 million you’d think the federal government would have been able to design a more conspicuously colored envelope rather than sticking with the traditional white junk mail design. If I hadn’t examined the lettering closer I may have chucked it into the trash can like I instinctively do with most spammy mail pieces I receive.

If you want to know what the letter said, I’ve transcribed the entire content message below. It was a typical boiler plate form message. They didn’t even bother to address the letter recipient by name. I’m simply referred to using the standard moniker – “Taxpayer”.

Why the federal government and the IRS chose to spend so much money to send us this information is beyond me. Is this part of the economic stimulus plan – injecting precious taxpayer money to jump start the U.S. postal service? Why else would they waste $42 million worth of stamps and envelopes to send every single taxpayer this pointless notice? None of the information provided was new and most of the facts could easily be gleaned from a simple Google search about the stimulus tax rebate or a visit to the official IRS tax rebate website.

What the federal government and the IRS needs to do is join the modern age and start issuing nation wide email and text messages rather than relying on ancient snail mail postal delivery means. The IRS already accepts free e-filing and most people already submit their tax returns electronically. It’s quick and easy. Official governmental notices being sent nationwide should accordingly adopt this electronic medium as well. Better yet, they should have used the money to help fund the Democratic Primary Re-elections in Michigan and Florida to stop the electorate disenfranchisement. That would have been a better use of governmental funds than to spend it on taxpayer junk mail.

If you didn’t receive your part of the $42 million colossal paper waste, here is what the message said. It’s applicable to everyone:

Economic Stimulus Payment Notice

Dear Taxpayer:

We are pleased to inform you that the Unites States Congress passed and President George W. Bush signed into law the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, which provides for economic stimulus payments to be made to over 130 million American households. Under this new law, you may be entitled to a payment of up to $600 ($1,200 if filing a joint return), plus additional amounts for each qualifying child.

We are sending this notice to let you know that based on this new law the IRS will begin sending the one-time payments starting in May. To receive a payment in 2008, individuals who qualify will not have to do anything more than file a 2007 tax return. The IRS will determine eligibility, figure the amount, and send the payment. This payment should not be confused with any 2007 income tax refund that is owed to you by the federal government. Income tax refunds for 2007 will be made separately from this one-time payment.

For individuals who normally do not have to file a tax return, the new law provides for payments to individuals who have a total of $3,000 or more in earned income, Social Security benefits, and/or certain veterans’ payments. Those individuals should file a tax return for 2007 to receive a payment in 2008.

Individuals who qualify may receive as much as $600 ($1,200 if married filing jointly). Even if you pay no income tax but have a total of $3,000 or more in earned income, Social Security benefits, and/or certain veterans’ payments, you may receive a payment of $300 ($600 if married filing jointly).

In addition, individuals eligible for payments may also receive an additional amount of $300 for each child qualifying for the child tax credit.

For taxpayers with adjusted gross income (AGI) of more than $75,000 (or more than $150,000 if married filing jointly), the payment will be reduced or phased out completely.

To qualify for the payment, an individual, spouse, and any qualifying child must have a valid Social Security number. In addition, individuals cannot receive a payment if they can be claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer or they filed a 2007 Form 1040NR, 1040NR-EZ, 1040-PR, or 1040-SS.

All individuals receiving payments will receive a notice and additional information shortly before the payment is made. In the meantime, for additional information, please visit the IRS website at

www.irs.gov

After much online speculation and rampant rumors about the economic stimulus payment date, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has finally cleared up the confusion and released the official economic stimulus tax rebate payment schedule. You can read the IRS timetable announcement on its website (view IRS news release).

The IRS has announced that it will begin sending more than 130 million economic stimulus tax rebate payments starting May 2, 2008. Those who chose to receive their 2007 tax refund payments via direct deposit will get priority in receiving their stimulus tax rebates. Those who chose to receive their tax refund payments via regular postal service will receive their tax rebate checks in mid May, after the initial wave of tax rebate payments have been sent to those who chose the quicker direct deposit option.

Tax Rebate Receiving Order Will be Based On Social Security Number

The order that the tax rebate checks will be sent out will be according to the last 2 digits of the Social Security Number (SSN) used when you filed your federal tax return. Please examine the stimulus payment chart below to determine when you will be receiving your tax rebate. As the IRS noted on its announcement, because the order will be based on the numerical order of Social Security Numbers rather than by name or household, there is a high possibility that neighbors, family members, and friends may not receive their tax rebate checks at the same time.

The Official Economic Stimulus Tax Rebate Payment Schedule - (for Federal Tax Returns Received and Processed by April 15, 2008):

How To Make Sure You Get Your Tax Rebate Check

If you want to get your tax rebate check sooner, you should make sure to elect the direct deposit option if you haven’t already done so. Secondly, you should make sure you file your 2007 federal tax return by the April 15, 2008 deadline. If for whatever reason your tax return is filed after April 15, you should receive your economic stimulus payment about two weeks after receiving your tax refund. For those requesting filing extensions, if you want to receive your tax rebate by the end of this year, you must file your tax return by October 15, 2008. To accommodate people whose tax returns are processed after April 15, the IRS has indicated that it will continue sending weekly payments even after the end of the above schedule.

As I indicated in my 2008 Tax Stimulus Rebate commentary article, if you are already in bankruptcy or have tax liens for delinquent or outstanding debts such as – unpaid student loans, child support, or tax obligations, all or part of your economic stimulus payment may be withheld or intercepted. The IRS has indicated that it will send a letter to the taxpayer explaining the tax rebate offset, if any.

How Much Will My Economic Stimulus Payment Check Be?

Explanations and detailed answers to your tax rebate questions can be obtained by viewing the official IRS publications and announcements on the matter. Here are some links to official IRS answers to tax rebate questions, where most of the commonly asked questions are addressed. The more complicated and issue-filled tax rebate questions relating to Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings have been winding up as comments on my tax rebate article. I will continue answering them to the best of my ability based on my legal experience and knowledge on the matter. However, while my comments may be construed as general background information, they should not be blindly followed as definitive legal advice. Remember to always perform your own due diligence and research.

Updated – The IRS has released the official 2008 Economic Stimulus Payment Schedule.

Also, read about the prospects and chances of an Obama stimulus check for 2009.

Based on the substantial traffic and comments I’ve been receiving for the article I wrote explaining and breaking down the details of the 2008 Stimulus Rebate Package, it’s clear that everyone in the United States is concerned about their rebate checks. Everybody wants to know how large their own tax rebate check will be and when they can expect to receive it.

There are many questions to be answered and I’ve been trying my best to respond to them all. While most questions have been straightforward, others have been slightly more complicated with issues relating to Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy filings, or issues relating to wage garnishment and student loan liens. But I will continue to do my best to answer your flurry of tax rebate comments and e-mails.

Visit The IRS Website For The Official Source Of Tax Rebate News and Updates

While I can’t necessarily state that all answers that I provide are definitive, I do try my best to answer accurately based on research and reasonable information. One thing I have noticed is the vast amount of misinformation and speculation that is available on the internet. There seems to be much conjecture and rumors surrounding the tax rebate, particularly as it relates to timetable and the order that the checks will be sent out. I wish to remind readers that the only definitive source for tax rebate news and updates is the official IRS Economic Stimulus Payments Information Center (official website). There, they’ve done a pretty decent job of addressing the seemingly endless stream of tax rebate inquiries, even providing answers to popular tax rebate questions (Tax Rebate FAQ). The IRS tax rebate website provides stimulus check payment hypotheticals and answers questions pertaining to Social Security recipients and veterans living on disability. They post updates regularly and understandably so. Here’s a quick link to some of the official tax rebate questions and answers for various filing scenarios:

1. Single without children
2. Head of Household, with children
3. Married, with children
4. Married, without children
5. Married Filing Separately, with or without children

Here’s the official information release for recipients of alternative types of income:

1. Recipients of Social Security Retirement Income or Disability
2. Recipients of VA Benefits, Disability, or Survivor Benefits

If you still have unanswered questions, please continue to post comment questions to my original Bush Tax Rebate article. I will try my best to diligently answer each one as best as I can. Keep in mind that while I do have a legal and financial background, you will be best served asking your own tax professional or hired attorney the more substantive tax and legal questions, particularly when it relates to more delicate legal issues surrounding bankruptcy and liens. My informal opinions should only be viewed and regarded as general background information rather than seen as authoritative financial advice.