Why Did I Get a Tax Rebate From the IRS With No Explanation?

The IRS sent stimulus checks to taxpayers in 2008 and 2009.

In 2008, the IRS sent more than 130 million stimulus payments to federal taxpayers. Taxpayers simply filed their returns as normal and received a stimulus payment. Veterans and low-income Social Security benefits' recipients also received checks.

Considerations

Taxpayers, who normally file through electronic filing and chose to receive their federal refunds via direct deposit, received the stimulus deposits through direct deposit.

Size

Eligible individuals qualified for stimulus payments for amounts from $300 to $600. Joint tax-filers received up to $1,200. Taxpayers received an additional $300 for dependent children. The IRS staggered the mailing of the rebate checks based upon the first two digits of the taxpayer's social security number.

Warning

Late filers received their checks later than the individuals who filed timely tax returns. The IRS did not issue rebates for those who filed after the allowable extension of time (October 15).

References

• Internal Revenue Service: Economic Stimulus Payments

Resources

• Internal Revenue Service: Basic Information on the Stimulus Payments