Updated July 18, 2008

En Español: Pagos de Estímulo Económico

If you haven't yet filed a tax return to get your stimulus payment, you still have time to do so. But you must file by Oct. 15 to get your payment this year.And if you've already filed to get your payment but have a question or issue, it might be addressed here.

Find the Answer

Still looking for your rebate even though you've already filed a tax return? Or wonder why it's smaller than you were expecting? You may find the answer to your question in our:

• Top five questions people are asking

• Frequently asked questions about eligibility, payment amounts, payment delivery and more

If You've Already Filed a Tax Return

You may have already filed but still have outstanding issues. Find out more if you:

• Haven’t gotten your economic stimulus payment,
• Received one for a different amount than you were expecting,
• Amended your tax return,
• Changed your address, or
• Are in the military, have a spouse or children with ITINs instead of valid SSNs and received a reduced or no stimulus payment

If you still have questions, try:

• Our online tool that tells you if your payment has been scheduled for delivery the upcoming week, Where's My Stimulus Payment?
• The Rebate Hotline at 1-866-234-2942  

If You Haven't Yet Filed a Tax Return

If you haven’t filed a federal tax return to claim your economic stimulus payment, you have until Oct. 15 to file to get your payment this year. Find out more if you:

• Receive Social Security retirement or disability benefits
• Receive Veterans Affairs pension, disability or survivor's benefits
• Receive Tier 1 Railroad Retirement benefits 
• Are a low-wage worker, or 
• Filed for an extension of time to file your return.

Get Basic Information

If you're not sure what the payment is all about, read the basic information. 

Find Out if You're Eligible

You are eligible if:

• You or your family has at least $3,000 in qualifying income from, or in combination with, Social Security benefits, Veterans Affairs benefits, Railroad Retirement benefits and earned income. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not count as qualifying income for the stimulus payment.
• You and any family members listed on your tax return have valid Social Security numbers.
• You are not a dependent or eligible to be a dependent on someone else’s federal tax return. (The same must be true of any family members claimed on your return.)

Calculate How Much You May Get

• Eligible individuals — between $300 and $600
• Joint filers — between $600 and $1,200
• With eligible children — an additional $300 for each qualifying child

The actual amount depends on the information on your tax return. To find out how much you might be eligible for, use the economic stimulus calculator.

Find Out When You'll Get Your Payment

Whether you've already filed, have yet to file or filed for an extension, find out when you can expect to receive your stimulus payment.

Claim Your Payment

• Complete a federal tax return this year, even if you don’t normally do so. For instructions, a sample Form 1040A and a blank Form 1040A, see our 8-page informational package. Or use the longer Form 1040 and its instructions.

Then

• File electronically. For free free tax preparation software and electronic filing for people submitting a return solely to receive their stimulus payment, use Free File: Economic Stimulus Payment.

Or

• Mail a paper tax return to the IRS based on where you live.

Choose Direct Deposit or Paper Check

You can get your payment electronically as a direct deposit into your checking or savings account by filling in lines 44 b, c and d on Form 1040A or lines 74 b, c and d on Form 1040. Or you can get a paper check by leaving those lines blank.

Get Free Help at Taxpayer Assistance Centers

IRS employees will help prepare Form 1040A returns for low-income workers, retirees, disabled veterans and others. For a list of centers in your state and their hours of operation, Contact My Local Office .

Information For Businesses

• Information on the business provisions of the economic stimulus payment.

For More Information

Check out our:

• news releases, audio files, fact sheets and legal guidance 
• Flyers, public service announcements and other marketing products for IRS's partners and others

Avoid Rebate Scams

Identity thieves are using the stimulus payment as bait in their scams. Details can be found in news release IR-2008-11, IRS Warns of New E-Mail and Telephone Scams Using the IRS Name; Advance Payment Scams Starting

 Credit:http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=177937,00.html

IRS Newswire give you news releases via e-mail from the IRS National Media Relations Office in Washington, DC

The Taxpayer Advocate Service, commonly referred to as TAS, is an independent organization within the IRS dedicated to helping you resolve and prevent tax problems.

Related Information:

NBA Strategic Partner - Internal Revenue Service Taxpayer Advocate Service

NBA Resource Article - IRS Establishes e-Mail Box for Taxpayers to Report Phony e-Mails

NBA Resource Article - “Dirty Dozen” Tax Scams

Reprint of this article does not constitute an endorsement by the National Business Association; the article is for informational purposes for our members and viewers of our Web site.