May
23
The IRS Stimulus Payment program is a real mess. Many people haven't received their payments. Some haven't received the amount they were supposed to get according to the IRS web site. Some people have questions relating to child support or other debts owed to the government. Many people are searching the internet because they don't know how to contact the IRS by phone.
The IRS stimulus phone …
Comment by Chris: … and check on your stimulus payment: …
May
22
It's Not Too Late to Qualify for the Stimulus Payment
May 22, 2008 | 5 Comments
Many Americans can still qualify for the economic stimulus payment. This is good news for those don't normally file a tax return or may have made a mistake on their taxes.
According to a press release from the IRS, IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman wants people to know they still have time to qualify for the stimulus payment. They just need to file a tax return.
Can I Still File After April 15th?
Yes. The IRS wants people to …
May
14
Stimulus Payment: Do My Children Qualify?
May 14, 2008 | 12 Comments
… children, they may earn you an additional $300 each this year. That's because the economic stimulus package allows for an additional payment for each qualifying child in your household.
How will I know if my children qualify?
The IRS has some basic requirements. First the child has to have a valid SSN ( Social Security Number ). Second the child must have been younger than 17 at the end of 2007.
From the IRS Stimulus Site :
Additional Amounts for Qualifying Child: …
May
12
The economic stimulus package payments are on their way to millions of Americans. The IRS has gone out of it's way to ensure everyone knows about it. Those with low incomes can file their taxes online for free just to qualify for the stimulus payment. But what if you make too much and how much is "too much" really?
How Much is Too Much?
The threshold is either $75,000 (single) or $150,000 …
May
9
More frequently asked questions regarding the Economic Stimulus Payment ( Rebate ): What if my spouse owes money ? What will happen to our stimulus payment ? Will the IRS keep it all even though part of that money is for me and my children?
The IRS Will Keep Your Money
The IRS can keep your stimulus money (and tax refund) if you owe money to the government. The IRS will shoot first and ask questions later. So if your spouse owes money …
Comment by Chris: … your half of the stimulus payment. At this point you …
May
8
Is the Economic Stimulus Payment Taxable Income?
May 8, 2008 | 5 Comments
Is the economic stimulus payment (rebate) considered taxable income ? A few readers have asked that question so I figured I'd address it.
Economic Stimulus Payment is NOT Taxable Income
The simple answer is that the economic stimulus payment (rebate) is not considered taxable income by the IRS. So you won't have to count the stimulus payment in your income for your 2008 taxes. However, you should keep …
May
6
How I Spent My Stimulus Payment
May 6, 2008 | 6 Comments
With all the serious questions about the I RS Stimulus Package, I was getting a little burned out. I thought I'd take a break from the serious stuff and instead look at the other side. What are people spending their stimulus payment on?
I came across this website where people are posting about how they spend their stimulus payment. How I Spent My Stimulus is fascinating. The sheer variety of posts is amazing.
People have spent …
May
6
It seems a lot of people still have questions about how the amount of the stimulus payment is determined. The IRS provides a calculator on it's web site. So it's easy to find out how much should should get, but it's not so easy to see why you are getting that amount.
The IRS Stimulus Payment Calculator
You can find the IRS stimulus payment calculator here. Remember, this calculator only provides an estimate of your stimulus payment.
Because this …
Comment by Chris: … should get your payment automatically.
May
5
I've received several questions about the possibility of a second economic stimulus package. Many people want to know if it's true or just a rumor. Here's what we know right now.
The "First" Economic Stimulus Package
The Economic Stimulus Package was passed by Congress in early 2008. Among other things, it mandates direct cash payments to US citizens who've met a certain level of income and have paid taxes for the 2007 tax year.
In May of 2008 the IRS …
Comment by julie: … about the second stimulus package and it does not …
May
2
IRS Where’s My Stimulus Payment Web Page Broken?
May 2, 2008 | 525 Comments
The IRS recently launched it's Where's My Stimulus Payment page. I was thankful because I'm wearing out my keyboard answering questions from readers. However, several readers have commented that it appears to be broken.
Does Where's My Stimulus Payment Work?
I've received several questions from readers, asking if the stimulus payment tracker actually works. Remember, you can't track your payment until the time you're …
Comment by Sandy W.: … to receive the stimulus payment 6 to 8 weeks after …