Why is my wife not getting stimu. refund when we filed jointly?

Question

they only sent 900.00 i assumed it was house hold so my wife would get 600 i would get 600 and my 2 girls would get 300 each my wife is not employed but is still on the icome tax statements,they left off one of my girls and now im trying to talk to some one live on the phone about it and that is a dam joke, who can give me some reasons why my wife was not included in the stimu. refund .

Answer 1

You only get $1200 for the two of you if your tax liability was that much.  Sounds like the money you got was $600 total for you and your wife,  plus $300 for your child.  If you filed a joint return, it IS for the couple, not each individual, and it has nothing to do with which of you made the money - the people who said that your wife doesn't get anything are WRONG if you filed a joint return.  If you read the materials that were sent out, they said that the amount was UP TO $1200 for a married couple together.  UP TO doesn't mean that everyone gets that much.

Your stimulus payment is based on your net federal income tax for 2007. If your tax was between $600 and $1200 on your joint return, you get back everything you paid. If your tax was less than $600, you get an even better deal, and get $600, even MORE than you paid in. If you paid over $1200 though, your rebate is limited to $1200.

Your net income tax liability is one of the following depending on which form you filed:

·On Form 1040, the amount shown on Line 57 plus the amount on Line 52;

·On Form 1040A, the amount shown on Line 35 plus the amount on Line 32; or

·On Form 1040EZ, the amount on Line 10.

Your stimulus "refund" was more than you paid in, a pretty good deal.

Are both of your girls eligible?  You only get $300 for your kids under age 17 as of the end of 2007 - if one of them was over 16, then you don't get anything for her.  If you forgot to check the box in the exemption section of your return for being a qualified child for one of them, but she really was eligible, you'd still get another check for $300 for that child.

Your assumption that you and your wife would get $600 each wasn't correct, it sounds like you were only eligible for $300 each.  But if your girls were both eligible, you should get $300 for each of them, which would give you $1200 total for the family.

You should have gotten a letter which said how much you were getting for you and your wife together, and how much for your kids.  If you didn't get that letter, go to https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/irfof/IRServlet... and enter your info to get that info.

Answer 2

If your wife doesn't work she doesn't pay taxes, she will be entitled to any refund.

It does seem like a mistake that they left off one of your children though.  The effort to get it may not be worth the $300 dollars though, depends how much free time you have.

Answer 3

you shouldn't "assume" anything.

Did you check the IRS website and use the calculator to find out exactly how much you qualified for?  Using the calculator would of saved you any problems you are having.

And of course trying to call IRS is a joke, everyone that is filing want their refunds before the return arrives at IRS.

People should call for real tax problems.

Answer 4

It depends on your tax liability which depends on your income and deductions/credits for 2007.

Married couples are eligible for a rebate of UP TO $1200.  It is not a guaranteed $1200.  My guess is that you received the minimum of $600 for you and your wife ($300 each) plus $300 for one of your daughters.  If you oldest daughter was over 16 as of 12/31/2007, then she doesn't qualify for the extra $300.

Also, for some reason, some married couples file as "Head of Household" because they think that this is correct because only one spouse works.  Did you file as "Married-Filing Jointly"?

Answer 5

you just said it, your wife is not employed. if you are not working they don't send the check.

Answer 6

My understanding is if your wife is unemployed then she wouldn't qualify for the refund.  To be eligible you must have made at least $3000 and file and tax return - for your earnings.  Did she have any income using her name and social security number?

Answer 7

Only dependent who is under 17 in 2007 is eligible for stimulus payment.

You are your spouse each got $300:

The rebate payment is equal the amount of tax liability on the return (tax liability on the return Form 1040 line 46 or Form 1040A line 28) with a minimum amount of $600 and a maximum amount of $1200 for individuals.  

If you do not receive full amount of $600 now, then you may get the balance amount when you file your 2008 return, and you become eligible for the tax rebate.  

For information on stimulus tax rebate read: http://taxipay.blogspot.com/2008/04/list...

Answer 8

thatgirl

Is correct in her answer you can also call 1-800-829-1040 option #2 then #3 you will wait on hold with classical music for awhile I waited about 30 minutes before I talked to a real live person.