Am I wrong? . . Or is this "rebate" just an advance on our tax refund of '08?

[annabanana]

This is what that rebate a couple of years ago turned out to be. I haven't seen anything about this in our illustrious Press. .

[librechik]

1. bingo

ain't that great? The decider will let us borrow from ourselves!

[rzemanfl]

2. I posted the same question, no one seems to know, but most

believe it is just more utter bullshit. I will edit with the link.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2759593&mesg_id=2759593

[baldguy]

3. Thats exactly what it is.

You'll have to declare it as extra "income" in 2009.

[Iwasthere]

4. I have been asking the same question ...

No one seems to know. Don't you think they should be up front on this. Last time they were sneeky and asked for it all back two years after we got our check. I had no idea and couldn't afford it. All a scam !!! A sick twisted trick on the poor.

[NoSheep]

7. I'm confused, could you explain...

Are you saying the last time this happened (2005?), you were asked to pay it back in full
($300 or something?)when you paid your taxes OR did you just have to pay taxes on the amount of the check?

[Iwasthere]

9. In 2003 I had to pay back the entire 2001 check

Yes. ... not taxes on the amount, the entire amount cam off my 2003 refund!!!!

[NoSheep]

12. I need to go back and look at my taxes.

[Avalux]

5. It's a joke. The 'rebate' won't stimulate the economy.

Most people will spend it on stuff made in China at Walmart anyway. It certainly won't help people stay in their homes when their mortages go through the roof.

[annabanana]

6. Well, yeah... But that wasn't my question. . . . .n/t

[wishlist]

8. Must be just an advance since Repubs objected to giving to nontaxpayers

Must be just an advance on tax payments like the last time. If it was a true freebie, Repubs would not have been able to object to payments going out to those with low enough earnings to not owe taxes (and objecting to food stamp increases). Dems won a concession from Repubs by approving the payments for all filers below the income thresholds, even those who may not actually owe taxes. So I'm sure that it will end up as a freebie only to those low income filers who will end up still not owing taxes even after counting it as income. The rest of us who do have taxable income will just get a lower refund or end up owing more than we would have without the 'rebate'.

[lurky]

10. To be fair, they hate helping poor people under any conditions.

And they don't mind going into debt if it involves a stupid war or cutting taxes on the rich. They just hate helping people who need it, and they love helping people who don't.

[nebula]

11. Nothing but an election year political stunt

they could give a crap about helping out anyone but themselves.