I don't get the point. If you make over 3000 you will recieve 900 for filing with a spouse and 600 for not filing with a spouse assuming you don't owe. Input any variation in there and it's the same.

What's the point of putting that in a calculator?

Hello. I have a question about the rebate calculator above. According to general information about the rebates ($600 single, $1,200 for married couples, additional $300 for each child) I should being getting a check for $1,800. According to the calculator I will only be getting $1,200. Why does the general information about this stimulus package not mention that whether or not the amount you will receive is effected by if you owe taxes in 2007?

okay I want to know if I'm married had 10,000.in non tax sss and made 3,000. paid no taxes on it would I get rebate no dependence but me and wife

I made in 2007 $5048.28 and am single no children and only get back $300.00 I don't understand

I don't think this calculator works right. If you put in any amount more than $3000 (singly), it gives you the full amount ($600). I read the bill for myself and it says you will only get back as much as you put in, up to $600 singly or $1200 jointly. It's actually written as a credit towards your 2008 taxes, more like a pre-bate than a rebate. How do they know how much you will make in 2008? I guess they will use 2007 as an estimate, and then calculate it correctly at tax time in 2009. Some people might make more in 2008 than in 2007, so they wouldn't get as much as they should, but the bill says it won't pay after Dec. 31, 2008. So they can't give you more money at tax time in 2009 if they should have. So, what will they do? Probably give everyone the full amount and then charge you for what they overpaid if you didn't make enough to qualify for the whole thing! I know most people don't do their own taxes, but some of us do and I'd like to really know what to expect. Technically, the calculator works right, because they will probably give us all checks for the full amount, and then ask those of us who don't owe that much to give some back at tax time. To hell with the lower class!

Is my dependent child, age 20, who is a college student who earned $6,000, eligible for the rebate even though he does not claim himself as a dependent on his return since he is claimed as a dependent on my tax return?

We retired in 03 at 62,we only get SSI and now after all those years of work we are only going to get a $300.00 rebate, let me tell you something,we could use the money,and would probably use it more responsibly than most, but the elderly and the disabled and the poor always get the raw deals. Shame on the politicians!

Why is it that people expect to get a bigger rebate, when in all reality some don't even pay in? Do they feel that they deserve everyone else's tax $ that we all work hard for?

What about people on ss? Is the amount different?

I started paying taxes as soon as I was old enough to. I then worked 2 jobs while going to college full time. I had to quit working a few years back because one of our children was born with a serious health problem. A health problem that DOES NOT qualify us for any financial assistance by the way. We have had to make do on just my husband's income & it has been a struggle but one we gladly face because NOTHING is more important than the health of our children. Don't get me wrong. We are not martyrs. We are like so many other parents who have been faced with the same situation & had to make sacrifices. What angers me is that so many feel they have the right to judge us for the position we find ourselves in. We did not ask for this. We could not predict our futures any better than anyone else! So we are the "lower class" & as such we are less deserving? I just hope that all those "worthy" citizens don't find themselves having to make such hard decisions. You know how unpredictable life can be! And for the record, I DON'T think we deserve every one else's hard earned tax money. I think we deserve OUR tax money. The tax money that MY HUSBAND & I have worked so hard for!

First, It is not a matter of how much someone is getting be thankful you are getting it. And let me tell miss monica something when she says to hell with the lower class people. I work in a nursing home for the last ten years, I make a little under 15,000 a year for the work I do What kind of work do you do It has nothing to do with what class your in otherwise you would not have your nose so high in the air

I think the calculator idea is great. Although the code does not work in my html editor. I put the code into a third party editor & it worked. What's up with that? Other developers are having this issue. Any resolutions?

why should people that is on welfare get the rebate .when they alrealdy get earn income .it the people that works 40 hrs or more that is getting a bad deal.

The calculater ask if you are filling with a spouse. I am married but my husband is disabled and unable to go back to work. Why does the calculater give us a higher rebate filling with a spouse than it does without a spouse even though the income is 0?

I am at the high end of the phase-out limit. I think that the calculator is not adjusting for the last minute changes in the bill. There is an increase in the limit before phaseout of I believe 6,000 per child. Could anyone who may know please comment. Thanks

when does this take effect?

I don't think the calculator works correctly either...it states "The legislation would deliver rebates -- $600 for individuals, $1,200 for couples -- to most taxpayers, plus an additional $300 per child. Individuals making up to $75,000 a year and couples earning up to $150,000 would get the full rebate, with those making more than that or too little to owe taxes getting smaller checks".. yet our AGI was $52,899 for 2007 and have a dependant and the calculator shows we get $900 but according to the release I quoted above we should be getting $1500???

This "calculator" (which has appeared on a number of websites, and has been attributed to a number of news media outlets) is a prime example of why NOBODY should rely on ANYTHING they see or hear in the news media.

The "economic stimulus rebate," as proposed by President Bush, as passed by the House, as modified by the Senate, and in its final form, is designed to be a tax rebate, eliminating the 10% bracket for most taxpayers. As such, it is designed to be a return of the taxes you have paid.

The "rebate" amount is the lesser of your net income tax liability or $300 (for single taxpayers) or $1200 (for married persons filing jointly) plus $300 per dependent.

If the taxpayer has earned income or social security benefits in excess of $3000, they will receive a minimum rebate of $300 (for single persons) or $600 (for married persons). If someone qualifies for either rebate, they will also receive $300 for each of the children claimed as dependents on their returns.

In the original house bill the criteria for qualifying for the minimum rebate was having an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $3000. This was replaced in the final version by $3000 of earned income or social security benefits, so as to share the rebate with those who don't pay any taxes. However, the size of the rebate is a function of tax liability, not AGI!

This "calculator" uses AGI rather than taxable income, to determine the size of the rebate. This was/is incorrect for all versions of the bill.

If you need a calculator to perform the simple arithmetic to determine the size of your rebate, follow these steps:

1) Did you (and your spouse if you file jointly) make more than $3000 in earned income (wages, salaries, etc. but not including investment income) and/or social security (not including SSI) benefits? If yes, then you qualify for at least the minimum rebate.

2) What is your (anticipated) tax liability for 2007? See line 44 (Form 1040) or line 8 (Form 1040A) or whatever line is labeled "Tax" on Form 1040EZ.

3) For single persons (including head-of-household, and married filing separately): If your tax liability for 2007 is less than $600, your rebate amount is equal to your tax liability for 2007. If your tax liability for 2007 is not less than $600, your rebate amount is $600. If your tax liability for 2007 is less than $300, and you answered "yes" in step 1, your rebate amount will be $300.

4) For married persons filing jointly: If your tax liability for 2007 is less than $1200, your rebate amount is equal to your tax liability for 2007. If your tax liability for 2007 is not less than $1200, your rebate amount is $1200. If your tax liability for 2007 is less than $600, and you answered "yes" in step 1, your rebate amount will be $600.

5) If you qualify for a rebate, add $300 for each dependent.

It's far easier to calculate than it is too explain, but the news media is too busy promoting their liberal agenda to provide an accurate calculator.

As far as being an "economic stimulus," the rebate is too little, too late, and too inflationary. It would make far more sense to provide a permanent tax cut. That would stimulate the economy, and spread the wealth across the board. But that flies in the face of liberal mantras, no matter how many times it has been proven true, so the Democratic Congress won't even consider it.

First of all, what is throwing off this calculator is the very first input; "Do you OWE taxes for 2007"

Why is it I select "NO", I only get $300. If I select "YES", I get $600. Is "OWE" the correct word? I don't "OWE" any 2007 tax, in fact I've overpaid in the year 2007 and am getting a refund.

what if you fied injured spouse

I think you need to remember that you need to put yes that you owe taxes in 2007, even though you are get a refund on the difference. Its just that you paid more than the total amount of taxes due, and so the government refunds you the difference. Even though you get a refund, you still paid taxes in 2007.

So, after reading all of this, I'm assuming that I will not have to report the "rebate" amount as taxable income on my 2008 return. Is that correct?

pls clarify re: rebate for children; dependent children. is it age l7 period; or dependent children in college over l7 as well?????

I'm having the same problem as Jennifer. I should be getting 1800 dollars and the calculator says 1200.00. What's up??

From what I've read:
- If you have a child in 2008, you can still get the $300 rebate, though only when you file your 2008 return ($1200 now, $300 later assuming married 1 child). This calculator does not take that into account

-This is not taxable income in any year

- Owing taxes doesn't mean do you have to pay on April 15th (you under withheld), but did you have any tax liability for the year (your calculated tax owed BEFORE taking into account any payments you made through your employer or quarterly estimated tax payments

After reading all of this, minus cdg, you all are a bunch of idiots!!! And those of you that are on welfare and SSI that think your getting rebate checks are absolutely ridiculous!!!! Any free money you can get huh? Oh-and before I close, some of you may want to invest your rebate check in some spelling and grammer tutoring!!!

I was just wondering if the money is going to be free, why not let everybody get a piece of the action, there are people out there that has worked all of their that no longer work that should be entitled to the money, and there is people out there that has never worked that don't have money to spend but if they had money to spend they might see how nice it is to have money to spend and will get out and get a job,just to have some money,there shouldn't be no restrictions on anything if it's going to be free?

is the ones on SSI getting any of this money , like we dont paid tax's what do u go into walmart or any store ...tax's at the end of it ....

The PBS calculator doesn't accurately compute the rebate.

Here's one that does:

http://www.chateaumezcal.com/2008-tax-rebate.htm

Ugh, "Unbelievable". I agree that cdg had it right, but your negative tone is not appreciated. It's srs LOL that you misspelled "grammar" as you decried the spelling and "grammer [sic]" of those on SSI.

It's not at all surprising that SSI recipients that get their monthly check from SSA think that their benefits are "Social Security". That's how this issue (which I assumed had nothing to do with me, though I see that as a disabled vet it probably does) came to my attention. Most strictly-SSI beneficiaries STFU about "tax rebates", but AARP demanded that "Social Security" beneficiaries qualify for this econ stimulus. What did "Unbelievable" expect?

Plz use your "rebate" (if any) to pay off any outstanding high-interest, unsecured debt (credit cards). That goes to all of you, not just "Unbelievable" or others in my econ. status.

this is as accurate as any i have seen. but there may be 1 clog------if a single person has earned income of 20000and a liability of 800 dollars and he collects 5000 in social security.he should be a double--dipper----600 plus 300----so be it---ty

i don,t belive that people on welfare should get the rebate they should get out and get a job like all of us. some people can get away with getting welfare and child support at the same time and that isn,t right.

So a college student who decided to live at home for that year loses out on $600? No doubt the folks in Washington think a penny-pinching student will not go out and wildly spend the money and stimulate the economy.

No wonder college students are rallying for Ron Paul. Only Paul understands economics.

Wow - there's a lot of misunderstanding out there, folks.

The govt must use your 2007 tax return to determine your May rebate check because what else can they go on? IRS will devise some sort of calculation on your 2008 tax return to determine if you should have received a higher rebate based on changed circumstance during 2008 and you will get the additional rebate (or a tax credit) a year from now. If that calculation shows that you received "too much" you will not have to pay it back. IRS already said this in one of their announcements. We went through this once before, maybe some of you remember what year that was? (I don't).

People who no longer work will get the rebate if they receive at least $3K of retirement income which includes Social Security or Railroad or Veterans benefits.

Welfare recipients will not get a rebate unless they also receive one of the other eligible payments (this is possible - there are retirees and disabled vets on welfare because you can't live on the pittance that some of them receive from Social Security).

Students who are being claimed as a dependent by their parents aren't entitled to a rebate. If the student is self-supporting on either a 2007 or 2008 return (doesn't need to be both) they will get a rebate.

I agree that Paul's calculator should find a way to ask if you had an amount on the line titled "this is your total tax" but this is a tough concept for many many taxpayers. I have clients who still don't get it after 15 years of trying to educate them.