Not too late to get your IRS stimulus rebate--if you qualify

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A lot of taxpayers missed out on getting their IRS economic stimulus rebate last year, even though they qualified.  If you're one of them, you'll be glad to know that there's a way to get your check.

There seem to be two big reasons people didn't get the payment they should have. Some people made a mistake on their tax return, such as an incorrect Social Security number for a dependent--and according to IRS rules, that disqualified them. Other people qualified for the payment last year, but wouldn't have qualified the previous year--but the IRS used your previous year's tax return to decide whether to send a check or not.

Whether it was for one of those two reasons or some other, if you qualified for a tax rebate last year, but didn't get one--or didn't get the full amount--you can fix it when you file your taxes this year.

The details are on these two IRS pages:

The gist of the matter, though, is that you can figure out what the stimulus payment should have been, based on correct information and your actual status for 2008. If you got some stimulus money, but not the full amount, you subtract off the partial amount--but whatever stimulus you qualified for, but didn't get, goes on your return as a credit, and will be added to your refund (or deducted from whatever you owe).

Of course, if you didn't qualify for a stimulus payment, this doesn't help. But if you qualified, but didn't get the full payment you should have gotten, now you can fix it.
 

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Guest's picture
Marc

Thanks for this! I had heard something a while ago but never confirmed it. I will be sure to do this. I only got $300 because my earnings weren't high enough in 2007, but they were in 2008, so I should have an additional $300 heading my way.

Guest's picture

I didn't know this was still available. I will keep it in mind as I chat with friends and family. We did get our stimulus check. I wonder if Mr. Obama is really going to try and get us another one. I don't think the last one was such a good idea... Thanks for this information!

Guest's picture
Don

I should have recieved stimulus for 3 children (based on 2007 stats) but they only counted two of them, so my stimulus was $300 short. Now when I utilize this years 1040 to try to recover the $300 under "recovery rebate", it doesnt work out because they want me to use 2008 stats (whereby only 2 on my children will qualify). One child was 16 in 2007, and obviously 17 in 2008 so he wouldnt qualify using the tables in 2008 1040 forms.

Any suggestions

Guest's picture
Torley

I didn't know about this, Philip. It's appreciated.

Guest's picture

Great article on the first stimulus check. If your interested in hearing the latest on the second stimulus check, see here:

http://www.onemillionbucks.net/2009/01/second-stimulus-check-coming.html

Guest's picture
Pamela Hagerman

MY HUSBAND AND I RECEIVED 6OO I WORKED AND HE DRAWS DISABILITY I RECEIVED A LETTER SAYING WE WOULD GET 1200 AND WE ONLY GOT 600 I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW YOU COME UP WITH JUST 600 CAN YOU TELL ME ?

Philip Brewer's picture

I'm pretty clever, but not clever enough to explain the IRS.

When you do your taxes this year you'll be able to calculate what you should have gotten and subtract what you did get, and see what the balance is.  If you should have gotten more, that may be a chance for you to get even.

Guest's picture
Guest

I believe the limit is $600 for 2 children or more. Thus whether you have 2 children or 20, you're eligible for $600 (in addition the 600 for you and your spouse.)

Best,
Matt

Guest's picture
Guest

My niece has a child but is not married. In 2007 she filed single and only claimed herself. The father of the child claimed him on his tax return and he received the rebate of 300 for him. for 2008 my niece is filing as HOH and claiming the child. When doing the taxes with h & r Block taxcut it says she is getting the rebate of 300 for the child. Is this correct

Guest's picture
bruce

I didn't get any stimulus money last year, i'm on L@I and have a rental, didn't make over 20,000 didn't pay any taxes due to not making enough and having write offs on rentals, so why didn't we get any stimulus money? any idea?