Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Stimulus Checks

Good morning.

Yesterday my oldest daughter sent me an email, suggesting that I use it in my blog.

According to an article in the Detroit Free Press, written by columnist Susan Tompor, the mailing of the much discussed tax rebate, or stimulus checks is not dependent on how quickly we get our 2007 income tax forms into the mail, as many of us believed. Instead, it is to be done depending on the last two digits in our Social Security numbers. This may not come as a surprise to many people, but I had not heard about it. Maybe I don't read the papers closely enough. I certainly had not heard about it on TV.

If you're interested, this is the schedule the Detroit Free Press says will be followed:

Assuming that your tax return is filed on time, and that you request direct deposit of any refund, if the last two digits of your Social Security number are:
00-20 your check should be deposited May 2
21-75 May 9
76-99 May 16

If you do not request direct deposit - or if you will pay taxes instead of getting a refund
00-09 May 16
10-18 May 23
19-25 May 30
26-38 June 6
39-51 June 13
52-63 June 20
64-75 June 27
76-87 July 4
88-99 July 11

Of course, if you have any kind of financial trouble such as past due taxes, or are delinquent on student loans or child support, you may not get a stimulus check. You may receive a letter from the government telling you where it will be applied.

One thing puzzles me. That next to last entry. Are checks going to be mailed on a holiday?

Well, there it is. I don't understand why the Detroit paper carried this, and the papers that I see did not, or why I had heard nothing on TV. (Though, truthfully, I don't listen too closely to what passes for news on TV. I think I've mentioned that before.) I did go to the IRS web site, and, sure enough, mailing will be based on the Social Security numbers.

Seems kind of sad to me that I haven't felt much excitement about the possibility of receiving "extra" money from the government, and I don't know anyone else who appears to be very excited about it either. There seems to be a general feeling of "I'll believe it when I see it."

..............................................


Ten more months, folks. Can we make it for that long?


11 comments:

Sandpiper (Lin) said...

Thanks for the information. I hadn't heard about the distribution dates. We are filing for my Mom this week.

I like your last sentence. :)

kenju said...

I LOVE you last sentence and the answer is no.

We never file taxes until the last possible minute - so I don't know when - or if - we'll get a check.

Dianne said...

I too love the last sentence! and my answer is - it only takes a day for a fool to screw it all up so imagine how much damage can be done by in an evil idiot given 10 long months.

I also think the "stimulus" package is a huge folly. Granted $1200 will help folks pay a couple of bills or a month's mortgage and then what!? - nothing else has changed, all the money is gone and ...

please oh please let Jan 2009 hurry up here and let there not be another old white man in the White House!

wow - I do go on! sorry

Unknown said...

As Tood Rundgren once said in concert: "Throw money! THROW MONEY!!":D

Ralph said...

I had heard those dates several times on the news here. The real question is do you believe them. I have to wonder if that will do any bit of good as far as helping the economy.
Ralph

bobbie said...

I pretty much agree with you guys that, while it will be nice to have a few dollars, assuming we actually get them, it really isn't going to do much for the country's ills.

Lisa said...

it also isn't going to change opinions, which is what i think it was supposed to do. i hope they don't change their minds once they all read our thoughts on the subject! i still want my money darnit!! :)

Lisa said...

i DID see your blog when i wrote my entry... (i stole your topic) yesterday i was informed that since jeff is now passed, i don't get his share of the rebate. Say what??? I'm paying his share of his taxes so the whole subject is bugging for a number of reasons, as it obviously is with lots of others. my first sentence is a link to your entry regarding stimulus checks.

MKD said...

This I didn't know...
Good info to know, though I tend to agree with some above that the stimulus package may not help much in the long run.
Great site, by the way! I was on The Pagan Sphinx's site this evening, and saw her talk your blog up. Glad she did!

brucesc said...

I don't quite see why people think a different president will make any difference--it's congress the makes all money decisions. I would hate to see this country become socialist and all incentive to have and grow businesses be lost.

Shady Gardener said...

Interesting. I hadn't heard a bit about all this. Thanks. ;-)