Rebate checks mean more work for IRS

January 25, 2008

Pity the poor IRS. Really.

Already this filing season, the agency is scrambling to get its computer systems fully operational to deal with late changes to the alternative minimum tax (blogged about here).

Refund_check_3Now the IRS will have to handle millions of rebate checks, perhaps in the thick of filing season if the legislation moves quickly on Capitol Hill.

The New York Times‘ tax reporter David Cay Johnston takes a look at the added burdens the rebate program will put on the IRS.

Johnston notes that the rebate mailing will likely "impose major strains on the Internal Revenue Service, delays in answering calls to the agency and require a host of technical rules to determine who ultimately collects the benefits."

And as we all know, if the IRS ain’t happy, a lot of us taxpayers probably won’t be either.

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Comments
  • does anyone know how this will affect someone like me who owes the IRS? Will I actually get a check, or will my debt be simply reduced by the amount of my rebate?
    It is a question, I have asked on my own blog to.

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