H.R.5140
Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 (Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)
`SEC. 6428. 2008 RECOVERY REBATES FOR INDIVIDUALS.
`(a) In General- In the case of an eligible individual, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by subtitle A for the first taxable year beginning in 2008 an amount equal to the lesser of--
`(1) net income tax liability, or
`(2) $600 ($1,200 in the case of a joint return).
You will receive a below-the-line credit against your 2008 tax liability. The mount shall be $600 (per person) unless your tax liability for 2008 is less than $600 (per person). (NOTE: "tax liability" means that you should have paid or had withheld some amount of income tax; it does NOT mean that you end up owing according to tax return calculations (which take into account what you should have paid and what you already had withheld). If your adjusted gross for 2008 puts you in the have-to-pay-taxes range, you're eligible for this here $600.)
`(b) Special Rules-
`(1) IN GENERAL- In the case of a taxpayer described in paragraph (2)--
`(A) the amount determined under subsection (a) shall not be less than $300 ($600 in the case of a joint return), and
`(B) the amount determined under subsection (a) (after the application of subparagraph (A)) shall be increased by the product of $300 multiplied by the number of qualifying children (within the meaning of section 24(c)) of the taxpayer.
`(2) TAXPAYER DESCRIBED- A taxpayer is described in this paragraph if the taxpayer--
`(A) has qualifying income of at least $3,000, or
`(B) has--
`(i) net income tax liability which is greater than zero, and
`(ii) gross income which is greater than the sum of the basic standard deduction plus the exemption amount (twice the exemption amount in the case of a joint return).
Almost everyone gets at least $300, and everyone gets $300 per minor child living at least 181 days with them (additional to the $600 per person we already discussed).
`(c) Treatment of Credit- The credit allowed by subsection (a) shall be treated as allowed by subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1.
`(d) Limitation Based on Adjusted Gross Income- The amount of the credit allowed by subsection (a) (determined without regard to this subsection and subsection (f)) shall be reduced (but not below zero) by 5 percent of so much of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income as exceeds $75,000 ($150,000 in the case of a joint return).
Not everyone gets that $600, and not everyone gets $300 per dependent child. You wealthy folk have to be satisfied with only the tax cuts we've been giving you for years now.EDIT: Phase-put between $74k-$86k (single-filer's AGI) and $150k-$174k (joint filers' AGI). But
no phase-out for the $300/child money.
`(e) Definitions- For purposes of this section--
`(1) QUALIFYING INCOME- The term `qualifying income' means--
`(A) earned income,
`(B) social security benefits (within the meaning of section 86(d)), and
`(C) any compensation or pension received under chapter 11, chapter 13, or chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code.
`(2) NET INCOME TAX LIABILITY- The term `net income tax liability' means the excess of--
`(A) the sum of the taxpayer's regular tax liability (within the meaning of section 26(b)) and the tax imposed by section 55 for the taxable year, over
`(B) the credits allowed by part IV (other than section 24 and subpart C thereof) of subchapter A of chapter 1.
`(3) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL- The term `eligible individual' means any individual other than--
`(A) any nonresident alien individual,
`(B) any individual with respect to whom a deduction under section 151 is allowable to another taxpayer for a taxable year beginning in the calendar year in which the individual's taxable year begins, and
`(C) an estate or trust.
`(4) EARNED INCOME- The term `earned income' has the meaning set forth in section 32(c)(2) except that--
`(A) subclause (II) of subparagraph (B)(vi) thereof shall be applied by substituting `January 1, 2009' for `January 1, 2008', and
`(B) such term shall not include net earnings from self-employment which are not taken into account in computing taxable income.
`(5) BASIC STANDARD DEDUCTION; EXEMPTION AMOUNT- The terms `basic standard deduction' and `exemption amount' shall have the same respective meanings as when used in section 6012(a).
Blah blah blah.
This is the part that matters: `(f) Coordination With Advance Refunds of Credit-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The amount of credit which would (but for this paragraph) be allowable under this section shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the aggregate refunds and credits made or allowed to the taxpayer under subsection (g). Any failure to so reduce the credit shall be treated as arising out of a mathematical or clerical error and assessed according to section 6213(b)(1).
`(2) JOINT RETURNS- In the case of a refund or credit made or allowed under subsection (g) with respect to a joint return, half of such refund or credit shall be treated as having been made or allowed to each individual filing such return.
`(g) Advance Refunds and Credits-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Each individual who was an eligible individual for such individual's first taxable year beginning in 2007 shall be treated as having made a payment against the tax imposed by chapter 1 for such first taxable year in an amount equal to the advance refund amount for such taxable year.
`(2) ADVANCE REFUND AMOUNT- For purposes of paragraph (1), the advance refund amount is the amount that would have been allowed as a credit under this section for such first taxable year if this section (other than subsection (f) and this subsection) had applied to such taxable year.
(f)(1) -- "Reduced by the aggregate refund allowed to the taxpayer" sure sounds like the economic "stimulator $$$" is a below-the-line assessment against your 2008-tax-year refund, if any, up to the amount you've been $$$-stimulated.
(f)(2) -- blah blah blah
(g)(1) -- WTF?
(g)(2) -- WTF?
`(3) TIMING OF PAYMENTS- The Secretary shall, subject to the provisions of this title, refund or credit any overpayment attributable to this section as rapidly as possible. No refund or credit shall be made or allowed under this subsection after December 31, 2008.
`(4) NO INTEREST- No interest shall be allowed on any overpayment attributable to this section.
Blah blah blah.
