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Stimulus Payments: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Andrew Zumwalt, Personal Financial Planning, College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Missouri-Extension
Under the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, more than 130 million American households will receive economic stimulus payments beginning in May. The only way to get one this year is to file a federal tax return for 2007. This filing requirement also applies to some people who do not normally file, including many low-income people and recipients of Social Security, certain benefits received from the Department of Veterans Affairs and certain Railroad Retirement benefits.
Following are answers to some of the most commonly asked
questions regarding the payments.
Q. What do I need to do to get an economic stimulus
payment?
A. All you need to do is file a federal income tax
return for 2007. Even if you are not otherwise required
to file a tax return, you must file a 2007 return in
order to receive a payment this year. Although some
filers, such as high-income filers, will not qualify for
a stimulus payment, most will.
In most cases, you will fill out your return, reporting
all your income, deductions and credits as you normally
would. But even if you are not required to file, you
must file a 2007 return to get a stimulus payment this
year. Low-income workers, Social Security beneficiaries,
certain railroad retirees and those who receive certain
benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs who
normally don’t file may receive a stimulus payment if
they do. The IRS will provide special filing
instructions for those who do not otherwise have a
filing requirement. The instructions will explain which
lines on the tax return the filers need to complete.
You do not need to calculate the amount of the stimulus payment. If you qualify, the IRS will automatically figure it and send it to you. The IRS will also send you a notice showing the amount of your payment. You do not need to call the IRS or fill out any other special forms.
Individuals who need to file a return this year to
receive a stimulus payment may be able to take advantage
of thousands of free tax preparation sites nationwide
for low-income and elderly taxpayers.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides help to low- and moderate-income taxpayers. Call 1-800-906-9887 to locate the nearest VITA site. If you live in Missouri, you can go here for a searchable database of free tax assistance sites in Missouri.
The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program also provides free tax help to people age 60 and older. As part of the IRS-sponsored TCE Program, AARP offers the Tax-Aide counseling program at more than 7,000 sites nationwide during the filing season. To find an AARP Tax Aide site call 1-888-227-7669 or visit the AARP Web site.
Q. How do I find out if I am eligible?
A. Most people with a 2007 net income tax liability will
qualify. This includes most people who get tax refunds.
Net income tax liability is the amount shown on Form
1040, Line 57 plus the amount on Line 52. For
1040A filers, it is the amount on Line 35 plus the
amount on Line 32. For Form 1040EZ filers, it is the
amount on Line 10.
Families with children under 17 generally will qualify
for an additional payment. Some people with no tax
liability also will qualify. This includes Social
Security and Railroad Retirement beneficiaries,
recipients of certain veterans’ payments, low-income
workers with earned income and/or benefits of at least
$3,000 and individuals who have combined income of at
least $3,000 from any combination of these sources.
Some higher-income taxpayers will not receive a stimulus
payment or will receive a reduced payment.
Q. What is “Net Income Tax Liability?”
Net income tax liability (NITL) is the excess of the sum
of regular tax and alternative minimum tax (AMT) due
reduced by all nonrefundable tax credits (except the
child credit). If you file a 1040, your NITL is the sum
of line 52 and line 57. If you file a 1040A, your NITL
is the sum of line 32 and line 35. If you file 1040EZ,
then your NITL is line 10.
Q. I want to estimate my payment. Please explain how
it is figured.
A. Essentially, there are two parts to the stimulus
payment: a basic amount based on tax liability, filing
status or other qualifying factors if there is no tax
liability and an additional amount based on whether a
qualifying child is reported on the return.
Basic Amount of Payment: Taxpayers who had a net income
tax liability will receive a payment, unless they can be
claimed as dependents on someone else’s return, are
high-income individuals or do not have a valid Social
Security Number. The payment is equal to the taxpayer’s
net income tax liability, but no more than $600 for a
single person or $1,200 for a married couple filing a
joint return. The minimum payment is $300 for a single
person or $600 for a married couple filing jointly.
People with no net income tax liability will usually get
a minimum payment of $300 for a single person or $600
for a married couple filing jointly, as long as they
have qualifying income of at least $3,000. To figure
your qualifying income, add together the following
amounts:
- Wages that are reported on Form W-2.
- Net self-employment income.
- Social Security benefits reported in box 5 of the 2007 Form 1099-SSA, which would have been received in January 2008. People who do not have a Form 1099-SSA may estimate their annual Social Security benefit by taking their monthly benefit and multiplying it by the number of months during the year they received the benefit.
- Certain Railroad Retirement benefits reported in box 5 of the 2007 Form 1099-RRB, which recipients would have received in January 2008.
- Veterans’ benefits received in 2007, including veterans’ disability compensation and pension or survivors’ benefits received from the Department of Veterans Affairs. People who weren’t required to file a tax return can estimate their annual veterans’ benefits by taking their monthly benefit and multiplying it by the number of months during the year they received the benefit.
- Nontaxable combat pay if the taxpayer elects to include it as earned income.
Extra Money for Qualifying Child: Eligible taxpayers who qualify for a payment may receive an additional $300 for each qualifying child. To qualify a child must be under age 17.
Phase Out: The stimulus payment – both the basic
component and the additional funds for qualifying
children – begins to phase out for individuals with
adjusted gross incomes (AGI) over $75,000 and married
couples who file a joint return with AGI over $150,000.
The combined payment is reduced by 5 percent of the
income above the AGI thresholds.
Here are two examples of how the phase out works:
- An individual with AGI of $80,000 and federal income tax liability in excess of $600 would qualify for a basic rebate of $600. Because this individual’s AGI exceeds $75,000, however, her rebate is reduced by $250 (the credit is reduced by multiplying the amount of AGI over $75,000 by 5%). The taxpayer receives an economic stimulus payment of $350.
- A married couple with two children, AGI of $160,000 and federal income tax liability before the child tax credit exceeding $1,200 qualifies for a basic rebate of $1,200 and an additional qualifying child credit of $600 for a total rebate of $1,800. However, because the couple’s AGI exceeds $150,000, their rebate is reduced by $500 (the amount of AGI over $150,000 multiplied by 5%). The couple receives an economic stimulus payment of $1,300.
Q: Will receiving an economic stimulus payment in any way affect my eligibility for other federal benefits, such as temporary assistance for needy families, food stamps or Social Security? Will it count as income for purposes of my Social Security benefits?
A: No. The stimulus payments will not have any effect on
eligibility for federal benefits.
Q: I know some people won’t get a stimulus payment.
How do I know if I’m one of them?
A: You won’t get a stimulus payment in 2008, if any of
the following apply to you:
- You don’t file a 2007 tax return.
- Your net income tax liability is zero and your qualifying income is less than $3,000. To determine your qualifying income, add together your wages, net self-employment income, nontaxable combat pay, Social Security benefits, certain Railroad Retirement benefits and certain veterans’ payments.
- You can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return. For example, this would include a child or student who can be claimed on a parent’s return.
- You do not have a valid Social Security Number.
- You are a nonresident alien.
- You file Form 1040NR or Form 1040NR-EZ, Form 1040PR or Form 1040SS for 2007.
Q. I file using an individual taxpayer
identification number (ITIN). Can I still get a stimulus
payment?
A: No. The law does not allow stimulus payments to people who file a return using an ITIN. A taxpayer must have a valid Social Security Number to qualify for the stimulus payment. If married filing jointly, both taxpayers must have a valid Social Security Number. In addition, children must have valid Social Security Numbers to be eligible as qualifying children.
Q. I have an ITIN, but my spouse has a valid Social
Security number. Can we get a payment?
A. If you and your spouse file a joint return, you will
not get a stimulus payment. If your spouse files a
separate return, your spouse may qualify for a payment,
based on his or her income deductions and credits.
Q. If I have a valid Social Security Number and my
child has an ITIN, do I get extra money for the child?
A. No. To qualify for the extra credit for qualifying
children, not only do the taxpayer and spouse, if filing
jointly, need valid Social Security Numbers, but the
qualifying child must also have a valid Social Security
Number.
Q. When will I receive my stimulus payment?
A. The Treasury Department will start sending out
payments in early May.
Q. Will my stimulus payment be included in my regular
tax refund? Will the checks or direct deposits come at
the same time?
A. No and no. There will be two payments. You will
receive one payment for your regular tax refund and
later you will receive a separate stimulus payment.
Q. I have moved since filing my 2007 tax return. How
will my payment reach me?
A. You should file a Form 8822 with the IRS and a change
of address notice with the U.S. Postal Service. This
will ensure your check is sent to your new address.
Without your current address, the check could be
returned to the IRS as undeliverable.
Q. Can I have my stimulus payment direct deposited?
A. Stimulus payments will be direct deposited for
taxpayers who select that option when filing their 2007
tax returns. Taxpayers who already filed and requested
direct deposit won't need to do anything else to receive
the stimulus payment. Taxpayers who did not request
direct deposit for their 2007 refund will receive a
paper check by mail. The IRS reminds taxpayers who
haven't filed their 2007 returns yet that direct deposit
is the fastest way to get both regular refunds and
stimulus payments.
Q. I want to choose direct deposit for my 2007 tax
refund. Where do I find the “routing” number required by
the IRS?
A. The bank routing number is a nine-digit number
located on the face of your check to the left of your
account number. Make sure you double-check both the
routing and account numbers when putting in your direct
deposit request. Keep in mind that whichever account you
choose for the direct deposit of your tax refund is the
account into which the IRS will deposit your stimulus
payment.
Q. I chose direct deposit for my 2007 tax refund but
also requested a Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL) from my
preparer. How does that affect my stimulus payment?
A. Taxpayers who use RALs or enter into any other loan
or financial agreement with their tax professional
cannot receive their stimulus payments by direct deposit
and instead will get a paper check.
Q. If I live in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
American Samoa, Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, will I get a stimulus payment?
A. In many cases, the answer is yes. But special rules
in the law apply to these five U.S. territories
(possessions). In general, the tax authorities in each
possession will make stimulus payments to eligible
residents. The law provides guidelines under which the
Treasury Department will make payments to each
possession for this purpose. People in these areas with
questions about the economic stimulus payments should
contact their local tax authority.
Q. I have not yet filed my 2007 tax return. Can I
still qualify for a stimulus payment in 2008?
A. Yes, but you must file a 2007 tax return. The IRS
encourages you to file a return even if your income is
low or much of your income is tax-free. File your
return, if possible, by the regular April 15 deadline.
If you file after April 15, with or without a tax-filing
extension, your payment will be delayed. If you qualify
for a payment, you can insure that you get it by filing
your return by Oct. 15, 2008.
Q. My spouse and I have divorced and the stimulus
payment check is made out to both of us. Can I cash it?
A. If the check is made payable to both of you, then
both must endorse the check. Even if you and your spouse
are now divorced, both must sign the check. By law, each
spouse is considered to receive half of the payment in
cases where a joint 2007 return was filed.
If the filers chose to have their tax refund direct
deposited, the stimulus payment will be direct deposited
into the same account that received the tax refund.
Q. Is my stimulus payment taxable?
A. No. You will not owe tax on your payment when you
file your 2008 federal income tax return. However, you
should keep a copy of the IRS letter you receive later
this year listing the amount of your payment. You will
need to know this amount next year when you fill out
your 2008 return.
Q. Will the payment I receive in 2008 reduce my 2008
refund or increase the amount I owe for 2008?
A. No, the stimulus payment will not reduce or increase
your refund when you file your 2008 return.
Q. I don’t qualify for a stimulus payment based on my
2007 return. However, my tax situation will be different
in 2008. Will I qualify for any special benefit?
A. Possibly. The 2008 tax instructions will include a
worksheet to help those who did not qualify for a
payment or those who received a reduced amount determine
if they can obtain a benefit when they file their 2008
tax returns next year.
Q. I'm eligible for a payment but I still owe federal
income tax from a prior year. Will my payment be
reduced?
A. Yes. For this purpose, the stimulus payment is
treated like any other tax refund. This means that part
or all of your payment can be used to pay past-due
federal or state income taxes or non-tax federal debt
such as student loans and child support. If this occurs,
you will receive a letter explaining how the stimulus
payment was applied.
For more information about taxes, please visit:
http://missourifamilies.org/features/financearticles/taxes.htm
Resource: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179181,00.html
Resource: IRS TAX TIP 2008-04
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Last update: Wednesday, March 05, 2008
