Some people will start getting their checks next week. You might want to keep an eye on your bank account for the extra money ..if you used direct deposit.

Tax rebates to start arriving Monday - Apr. 24, 2008

"The federal government, eager to boost the flagging economy, will start distributing special tax rebates on Monday - five days earlier than expected, the Treasury Department said Thursday.

The department had said last month that it would begin giving rebates on May 2.

Instead, 800,000 tax filers daily will get rebates on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. No rebates will be distributed on Thursday, and 5 million payments will be made on Friday."

Here is an interesting article about store offers

The Enquirer - Kroger will boost rebates

"Kroger Co. wants your tax stimulus or refund spent in its stores, and the Cincinnati-based retailer is offering a 10 percent incentive in 2008 to make sure that happens.

The grocer May 2 launches a program that adds 10 percent to all gift cards of $300 or more - bringing the shopper $330 to spend in any store under the Kroger corporate umbrella.

The gift card offer comes in increments of $300 to match the payment amounts outlined by the Internal Revenue Service for the federal economic stimulus program, the company said Wednesday. Starting May 2, the U.S. Treasury will send economic stimulus payments to more than 130 million households."



*The article goes on to talk about other stores having deals to get you to spend you tax rebate money with them.

IRS Tax Rebate Checks to be Mailed out Starting Monday



Staff Report
NewsWest 9

Good news for those of you waiting for your IRS rebate check.

You're going to get them sooner than previously announced.

Originally, the first checks were going to be sent out on May 5th.

Those checks for people whos Social Security numbers that end with 00 to 20 will now be mailed out this Monday, April 28th.

The following Monday, May 5th, those of you whos Social Security numbers end with 21-to-75 will have your checks mailed to you.

The rest will be sent out on May 12th.

Those long-promised tax rebates are now on their way to U.S. taxpayers.

Federal officials and U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson decided Thursday to start sending out the U.S. Treasury economic stimulus payments to more than 130 million individuals a week earlier than planned.

People who chose to have their rebates directly deposited into their bank accounts will the money there beginning today. The government's paper checks will start going out on May 9th, a week earlier than previously announced.

"We will start a bit earlier. We're a little bit ahead of schedule, so we will start right on Monday with direct deposits," Paulson said.

Paulson said the early payments could boost the U.S. economy by about $50 million by the end of May.

Click for IRS calculator to determine your refund amount

The Treasury now plans to deliver 130 million checks between April 28 and July 11, based on the last two digits of the recipient's Social Security number. Click for IRS schedule table

All of the payments will be starting a week earlier than originally scheduled.

Those who sign up to receive a 2007 tax refund via direct deposit will receive checks first.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, direct deposit payments will be made this week to recipients whose Social Security numbers end in 00-20.

Direct deposit payments will be made May 2 to people whose numbers end in 21-75.

The final round of direct deposit payments will be made May 9 to people whose numbers end in 76-99.

Those who will receive paper checks are on a slightly later schedule, according to the IRS.

Checks will be mailed May 16 to those whose numbers end in 00-09. A second round of checks will be mailed May 23 to those whose numbers end in 10-18.

A May 30 mailing will be made to people whose numbers end in 19-25.

Mailings will be made June 6 to those whose numbers end in 26-38; June 13 to numbers 39-51; June 20 to numbers 52-63; June 27 to numbers 64-75; July 4 to numbers 76-87; and July 11 to those whose numbers end in 88-99.

To receive a payment, taxpayers must have a valid Social Security number, $3,000 of income and file a 2007 federal tax return, and the IRS will take care of the rest.

Eligible people will receive up to $600 ($1,200 for married couples) and parents will receive an additional $300 for each eligible child younger than 17.

Millions of retirees, disabled veterans and low-wage workers who usually are exempt from filing a tax return must do so this year in order to receive a stimulus payment.

For additional information, the IRS Web site is the best source for answers to questions regarding the stimulus payments.

The site has an online tool which allows taxpayers to calculate the amount of their advance payment and to check on the status of their checks. (Click on the links below to access the IRS site and to directly access the economic stimulus payment section on the IRS Web site)

All of the above conditions apply to filers who file by the April 15 deadline.

Late filers and anyone who owes back taxes, is delinquent in their child support payments or has another debt that normally would interfere with getting a tax refund, also may get either a later stimulus payment or a smaller one, the IRS said.

Who is eligible to get a stimulus check?

Even those who have little or no tax liability may qualify for a minimum payment of $300 ($600 if filing a joint return) if their tax return reflects $3,000 or more in qualifying income.

For the purpose of the stimulus payments, qualifying income consists of earned income, such as wages and net self-employment income, as well as Social Security or certain Railroad Retirement benefits and veterans' disability compensation, pension or survivors' benefits received from the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2007.

However, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not count as qualifying income for the stimulus payment.

Social Security recipients, certain railroad retirees, and those who receive veterans' benefits must file a 2007 return in order to notify the IRS of their qualifying income