Deadline for Filing Taxes to Receive Stimulus Check?

By Mrs. Accountability on May 3rd, 2008

I read over at Paid Twice’s blog today that you can check at the IRS website to see when to expect your stimulus check. I was a little bit concerned when I noticed the statement accompanying my results.

Look there at the bottom, which I circled in red and highlighted in yellow. You can click on the image to get a bigger version. It says:

“Remember, in order to qualify for the Stimulus Payment, you must have filed your 2007 tax return more than six weeks ago.”

Hmmm… today is May 3rd. That statement indicates if I didn’t file my tax return by March 21, I do not “qualify” for the stimulus payment.

Obviously someone was half asleep when they set up this webpage. What they should have something was something like:

“Remember, in order to find out when your Stimulus Payment can be expected, you must have filed your 2007 tax return more than six weeks ago.”

According to the IRS, your deadline for filing your taxes which will enable you to receive a Stimulus Payment during this year is October 15th. From the IRS site:

“People who file a return after April 15 will receive their economic stimulus payment, but probably about two weeks later than the schedule shows. A return must be filed by October 15 in order to receive a stimulus payment this year.”

The statement seems to be indicating that in order for you to get your stimulus check within the year of 2008, you need to file by October 15th.

Q. If I’m filing a tax return this year just to get a stimulus payment, by when do I have to file?

A. The IRS encourages everyone to file by the normal April 15 tax deadline: The sooner you file the sooner you can receive your stimulus payment. But if you have obtained a valid six-month extension to file or if you are filing to establish your eligibility for the stimulus payment, filing by Oct. 15 means the IRS can process your return and issue a stimulus payment before the end of the year. [New 3/5/08]

I guess we’ll just have to go with the chart found at the IRS which states when our Stimulus Payment will be mailed out.