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The Check Is In The Mail

By WKRG Staff/Internal Revenue Service

Paper tax rebate checks are being mailed starting today, a week ahead of schedule. Click here to find out when your check will arrive. The Check Is In The Mail

Published: Fri, May 09, 2008 - 10:32 am Last Updated: Fri, May 09, 2008 - 10:37 am

Paper stimulus checks are being mailed starting today, a week ahead of the posted schedule. Some, but not all, taxpayers will receive their checks early. There is no way to tell who will or won't get their check early.

The top questions about Economic Stimulus Payments (ESPs) we continue to get from taxpayers are:

Q. Why am I getting a paper check when I chose direct deposit on my 2007 tax return?
A. If you requested that your electronic filing or tax preparation fee be deducted from the amount of your refund, you have entered into a financial agreement with the tax preparation provider or e-file software company for a refund anticipated check (RAC). Both Refund Anticipation Checks (RACs) and Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) are bank products. The money that is deposited into your bank account comes from the financial institution associated with your electronic filing software provider or tax preparation provider, not directly from the IRS. Taxpayers who use RALs, RACs or enter into similar loans or financial agreements with their tax professional or tax software companies will not receive their economic stimulus payments by direct deposit. Instead they will get a paper check that will be issued according to the schedule that has been published for paper check distribution.

Q. I received my stimulus payment, but it was less than I expected. Why?
A. Your economic stimulus payment is based on information provided on your 2007 income tax return.
Many but not all taxpayers qualify for the maximum basic payment of $600 for singles or $1,200 for married couples. Many parents are also receiving an additional $300 for each qualifying child, born after Dec. 31, 1990.

Your payment may be less than the maximum for one or more of the following reasons:

You are single and your net income tax liability is less than $600. If you file Form 1040 net income tax liability is the amount shown on Line 57, plus the amount on Line 52.
You are married and your net income tax liability is less than $1,200.
You are single and your adjusted gross income (AGI) is more than $75,000. On Form 1040, AGI is the amount on Line 37.
You are married filing a joint return and your AGI is more than $150,000.
You owe back taxes that reduced your payment.
You have non-tax federal debts such as unpaid student loans or child-support obligations that reduced your payment.
Around the time you receive your payment, you will also receive a notice from the IRS explaining how your payment was calculated. It is important to keep this notice as a record of your economic stimulus payment. In addition, you’ll get a separate notice if you owe back taxes or non-tax debts that were offset or deducted from your stimulus payment.

PAPER CHECK
Last two digits of Social Security number / Mailed By:
00 through 09 / May 16
10 through 18 / May 23
19 through 25 / May 30
26 through 38 / June 6
39 through 51 / June 13
52 through 63 / June 20
64 through 75 / June 27
76 through 87 / July 4
88 through 99 / July 11

DIRECT DEPOSIT
Last two digits of Social Security number / Depotisted By:
00 through 20 / May 2
21 through 75 / May 9
76 through 99 / May 16

If you have questions about tax rebate checks, call 1-800-829-1040 or click here.