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_3 Now 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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The More Tax Posts tab at the top of this page will take you to, well, more tax posts. You also can search below for a tax topic.

TAX-SAVVY WAYS
TO WRAP UP 2026

It’s over! With October’s extended filing deadline behind us, it is now time to focus on year-end moves to reduce your 2026 tax bill.

You’ll find ways to do just that on the Tax Tips page (see the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of the blog), as well as the separate tax tip pages for each month, notably October through December. If you’re on the Tax Tips page, you’ll find a monthly list at the end of this column. If you’re on another blog page, you can head straight to the October tips; at the bottom of that tips page you’ll find links to all the other 11 months’ collections of tax advice.

Not to spoil what you’ll find in that tax advice, but it does cover such things as tax deductions for charitable donations, investment moves that could reduce tax due, and ways to max out your tax-favored retirement savings.

Finally, as the year winds down, things get hectic. There are lots of other things to occupy our time, like the much more fun upcoming holidays. But don’t lose sight of taxes, since timing is key. To be of use, most tax moves must be made by the end of the tax year. That’s Thursday, Dec. 31, which also is the last business day of the year.

So that you don’t miss that final tax year deadline, also keep an eye on the countdown clock below. It will keep you on top of just how much time is left to make important, tax-saving moves. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

Credits/Deductions

Disasters

Family

Filing and Paying Taxes

Politics/Laws

Refunds

State Taxes

Tax Brackets/Inflation

Tax Tips

Comments

Prince of Thrift

19 years ago Reply

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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Rebate checks mean more work for IRS

Prince of Thrift