Business & Finance Blog

People who are awaiting an economic stimulus payment or who have yet to file can avoid common errors that may delay their payment. They also can use the IRS Web site to answer most common questions.

The Internal Revenue Service, which is still issuing economic stimulus payments, has been studying trends and common issues in filing errors and questions posed by people calling its customer service telephone lines.

The most common question posed to the IRS is from people wondering when they will receive their stimulus payment. The question can be answered easily by going to IRS.gov and using the “Where’s My Economic Stimulus Payment?” Web tool.

Here’s how to avoid common mistakes:

• File only one tax return - People should file only one 2007 tax return. It takes the IRS up to 12 weeks to process paper returns and issue the stimulus payments. However, some people are filing more than one tax return in an effort to receive a stimulus payment, which could further delay their stimulus payment. The IRS is concerned there will be more multiple filings as the October 15 deadline approaches for filing a return in 2008.
• List qualifying income - Some people are listing their monthly income instead of annual income.  People must list their annual amount of qualifying income to be eligible for the minimum payment of $300 ($600 married filing jointly.) The qualifying income required by law is at least $3,000 in benefits from Social Security, Veterans Affairs and Railroad Retirement, earned income and/or combat pay.
• Review Your Tax Liability - Some people who have either small amounts of tax liability or no tax liability are getting smaller stimulus payments than they expected or none at all. Generally, the law provided for a maximum stimulus payment of $600 ($1,200 for married couples) or an amount equal to a taxpayer’s tax liability, whichever was less. Tax liability is the net amount of federal income taxes paid after deductions and credits. If people had no tax liability but had at least $3,000 of “qualifying income” from specific sources, they would be eligible for $300 ($600 for married couples.) There also is a $300 payment for each qualifying child.
• Amended return - Generally, people cannot file an amended return solely to get an economic stimulus payment unless they are a retiree, veteran or have other  “qualifying income.” While amended returns will be processed to correct the income, deductions and income tax as appropriate, the economic stimulus payment amount will not be adjusted based on an amended return. If people do not receive a payment this year, they can claim it when they file their tax return in 2009.
• Use Most Current Address - People must use their most current address in order to receive a timely payment. People who change addresses after filing should complete Form 8822 and a change of address card with the U.S. Postal Service. If the postal service is unable to deliver the payment, it is returned to the IRS.

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I just got back from the grocery store.  My goodness, Downy Softner is 9 bucks now.  Here are some tips on how to save money on groceries.

1. Use coupons
2. Buy in bulk (Costco)
3. Cut back on eating out
4. Plan ahead, cook ahead and freeze
5. Bring lunch to work
6. Buy cheaper or knock-off brand.

Times are tough lately and you are for sure not saving at the gas pumps.  To make it, it’s important to find ways to cut back on money.  Here are 5 ways to cut your auto insurance bill.

1. Increase your deductible - While this may save you money per month, you need to make sure that you have the money for the deductible should you have an accident.
2. Drive safely - Taking extra precautions while driving, staying under the speed limit and avoiding sudden stops and starts can help save on gas. Most insurance companies give discounts if you are accident-free for X amount of years.
3. See if you qualify for discounts - You may qualify for discounts by purchasing home and business insurance policies from within the same company.  Additionally, there are also discounts if you drive low miles, have multiple vehicles or your kids get good grades in school.
4. Reduce Coverage - Consider reducing your coverage if you are driving an older vehicle.  According to the Insurance Information Institute, it may not be cost effective to carry comp and collision on cars worth less than 10 times the amount you would pay for that portion of your coverage.  Try keeping the coverage, but raising your deductible.
5. Shop for a new provider - It’s always good to shop around every couple years.  In today’s world, there is usually a competitor out there that may give you a better deal.  Never hurts to look!

First-time homebuyers should begin planning now to take advantage of a new tax credit included in the recently enacted Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.

Available for a limited time only, the credit:

• Applies to home purchases after April 8, 2008, and before July 1, 2009.
• Reduces a taxpayer’s tax bill or increases his or her refund, dollar for dollar.
• Is fully refundable, meaning that the credit will be paid out to eligible taxpayers, even if they owe no tax or the credit is more than the tax that they owe.

However, the credit operates much like an interest-free loan, because it must be repaid over a 15-year period. So, for example, an eligible taxpayer who buys a home today and properly claims the maximum available credit of $7,500 on his or her 2008 federal income tax return must begin repaying the credit by including one-fifteenth of this amount, or $500, as an additional tax on his or her 2010 return.

Eligible taxpayers will claim the credit on new IRS Form 5405. This form, along with further instructions on claiming the first-time homebuyer credit, will be included in 2008 tax forms and instructions and be available later this year on IRS.gov, the IRS Web site.

If you bought a home recently, or are considering buying one, the following questions and answers may help you determine whether you qualify for the credit.

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Washington — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates for the calendar quarter beginning July 1, 2008, will drop by one percentage point. The new rates will be:

• five (5) percent for overpayments [four (4) percent in the case of a corporation];
• five (5) percent for underpayments;
• seven (7) percent for large corporate underpayments; and
• two and one-half (2.5) percent for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points. Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points and the overpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.

The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal short-term rate based on daily compounding determined during April 2008.

Source

I haven’t received my stimulus check, have you? Economic stimulus payments will be issued according to the last two-digits of the main filer’s Social Security number. For joint filers, the payments will go out based on the person listed first on the return. Payments will be made by either direct deposit or paper check, consistent with how people filed their 2007 tax return.

To view the payment dates, go to the IRS website. You can also check the status if you like here.

I called the IRS about a tax related question and they said that paper checks are delayed, so if you ar going that route, be patient, it’s coming.