No Bush Kick Back For You!

[Ron Whitfield]

As I knew it would be, while doing my taxes this morning at Central Union Church, the volunteer tax worker informed me that I (again) would not be getting any of the 'ecconomic stimulus'/tax rebate $ Bush see's fit to dole out even to billionaires but not to those who could use it the very most.
While I don't desperately need it like I did the last time boy George stiffed us on this same particular matter (2001), who couldn't use 300 clams to actually help stimulate our collapsing economy?

My wallet aside, it's mind boggling that these total scum are still sitting in the White House instead of behind bars.

[tutusue]

I heard the other day that those who file their taxes using the short form aren't entitled to the rebate. Is that true? I'd heard previously that to be entitled to it one just had to file...short vs long form wasn't mentioned.

[Ron Whitfield]

I'm sure they've got a book full of way's to 'do us' out of it, but I hadn't heard that one, even tho mine was about as short as can be. I didn't 'qualify' because my reported '07 income was below 3 Gs.
Good thing, I'd have just spent it...

[Frankie's Market]

Good thing, I'd have just spent it...

Uhhh, that is the whole point behind the economic stimulus payments. For recipients to simply go out and spend it. Soon. Not just to deposit it in the bank and sit on it.

[helen]

I heard the other day that those who file their taxes using the short form aren't entitled to the rebate. Is that true? I'd heard previously that to be entitled to it one just had to file...short vs long form wasn't mentioned.

From that letter that was sent to us a few weeks ago it makes mention if you file certain tax forms you will not be entitled to the rebate and those tax forms listed if you look them up are the non-resisdent tax forms.

[Walkoff Balk]

I must have missed reading his Daddy's lips.
George W. could have his fingers crossed behind his back when talking about a tax rebate.

[Leo Lakio]

Uhhh, that is the whole point behind the economic stimulus payments. For recipients to simply go out and spend it. Soon. Not just to deposit it in the bank and sit on it.Which means that, once again, I will fail to do as the Bush Administration recommends. Apologies to everyone whose economy I am not stimulating.

[sinjin]

Well my family gets the max. That should cover my daycare for the month.

[oceanpacific]

A good number of people will be (or should be) using that money to pay down debts as they had already "stimulated" the economy previously. :eek:

[Frankie's Market]

Which means that, once again, I will fail to do as the Bush Administration recommends. Apologies to everyone whose economy I am not stimulating.

That makes two of us, although I offer no apology to anyone.

Frankie's Market <--- Thrifty, and proud of it! :p

Of course, the Feds knew that not everyone is going out to spend their payments immediately. But in this day and age of instant gratification, they made the safe assumption that the vast majority of rebate recipients will indeed spend it, thus triggering the desired effect on the economy.

[scrivener]

A good number of people will be (or should be) using that money to pay down debts as they had already "stimulated" the economy previously.
*sheepish hand-raise*

[craigwatanabe]

HELCO will get stimulated by my check.

[Leo Lakio]

*sheepish hand-raise*Duly noted, but with a warning that such behavior must be under control by the time you hit 40. Or not. Now, put your hand down and get back to work on your paper (or you'll miss the picnic). ;)

[craigwatanabe]

I'm sure they've got a book full of way's to 'do us' out of it, but I hadn't heard that one, even tho mine was about as short as can be. I didn't 'qualify' because my reported '07 income was below 3 Gs.
Good thing, I'd have just spent it...

How does one survive on $3,000 Annual Gross income? Oh wait a minute...you said that was your "Reported '07 income" meaning you didn't report the rest? ;)

[oceanpacific]

I will assume that he meant REPORTABLE income ............

[craigwatanabe]

I will assume that he meant REPORTABLE income ............

hey he said it, in this case I wouldn't have used my real name as my screen name:eek:

The bottom line is having disclosed less than $3,000 as reportable gross income is a bit suspect if I were an auditor for the IRS especially if you list your occupation as "Contractor", that is unless you're a young adult living with your parents but not as a dependent.:rolleyes:

[Ron Whitfield]

I list my occupation as retired, and for that year I'd have liked to have had the whole 3 Gs, but as stated, I was 'under', with pretty much everything declared. I'm a low maintainance, low overhead kinda guy, with a top floor ocean veiw over, and another pad on, the nicest beach on Oahu.
To live in Hawaii, happily, without the expenses and bummers most endure endlessly, you have to be creative, and lucky.
Esspecially if you strive to do so legitimately.
I've always been all of the above.

[craigwatanabe]

I list my occupation as retired, and for that year I'd have liked to have had the whole 3 Gs, but as stated, I was 'under', with pretty much everything declared. I'm a low maintainance, low overhead kinda guy, with a top floor ocean veiw over, and another pad on, the nicest beach on Oahu.
To live in Hawaii, happily, without the expenses and bummers most endure endlessly, you have to be creative, and lucky.
Esspecially if you strive to do so legitimately.
I've always been all of the above.

My apologies, I forgot about retirement. :o

[GeckoGeek]

Not just to deposit it in the bank and sit on it.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

[sinjin]

My apologies, I forgot about retirement. :oHaving had my children past 40 I think I better just forget about retirement too!:D

[craigwatanabe]

Having had my children past 40 I think I better just forget about retirement too!:D

When my youngest graduates from high school I'll be a few months shy of 65.

My oldest is going to be 24 and is already a manager at DHS in Honolulu.

So my oldest boy can help me out when I'm too old and poor for myself and my wife in retirement:D

Now if I can only convince my five other boys to become a heart surgeon, dentist, lawyer...I'll be set in my senior years.

[oceanpacific]

I'm sure we qualify gor the $1200 maximum, but it'll go straight to my wife's bank account (as will the federal return), so I won't get to see any of it directly. No stimulus payment for the kids: they're all over 17. :eek:

[craigwatanabe]

I'm sure we qualify gor the $1200 maximum, but it'll go straight to my wife's bank account (as will the federal return), so I won't get to see any of it directly. No stimulus payment for the kids: they're all over 17. :eek:

Yeah three of mine are adults all I have left are my three minor children...hmmm gotta make more! Yeah that's the ticket! Oh wait no can:(

[Karen]

Good news! we in the first group that had our returns direct deposited will be seeing our money this coming Monday, instead of May 2nd, that Friday they'd planned. Days after that the checks for the first group will start going out, so in other words the whole shebang is starting early.

[cyleet99]

Just in time for the summer camp program! Thanks, Dubya!

BTW, when I first saw it in the account, I freaked out and it took me a few minutes to realize what it was.:rolleyes:

[Frankie's Market]

The last 2 digits of my social security # are high. Darn, life is so unfair. :(

[oceanpacific]

Mine is about 1/3 of the way up from "00," but my better half's # is under "10." Since the federal refund is going to her bank account, I wonder if this means the stimulus payment will follow suit and go out early .......... :D

[Karen]

Ocean, yeppers! :D

The account your refund went to direct-deposit wise, is the same account they're gonna just dump it into, Monday! Woo hoo, two more days.

[oceanpacific]

OTOH, what difference does it make to me? It's not passing through my account! She gets the federal refund and stimulus (about $3K) and I get the state refund (a little over $1K).

Years ago, I learned that whenever I give her bucks to pay for things, there's no change. Examples:

1) 1991 Disneyland - $5K to give to her sister who made arrangements with the travel agency; cost $4300, so the $700 balance was converted to travelers' checks; that went unused, but upon return, that money was deposited in HER account; when I inquired why, she retorted that since I had done business in California with a classmate of mine and got paid $5700 for my effort, I had essentially made back the initial $5K I had withdrawn from my account and "netted" an extra $700; therefore, since I netted $700, she should also make $700;

2) 2004 Japan - $10K as she made arrangements with the travel agency; took 350K yen, came back with 130K unspent yen (app. $1100); no change for me.

BTW, her degree was in accounting ........... :eek:

[craigwatanabe]

OTOH, what difference does it make to me? It's not passing through my account! She gets the federal refund and stimulus (about $3K) and I get the state refund (a little over $1K).

Years ago, I learned that whenever I give her bucks to pay for things, there's no change. Examples:

1) 1991 Disneyland - $5K to give to her sister who made arrangements with the travel agency; cost $4300, so the $700 balance was converted to travelers' checks; that went unused, but upon return, that money was deposited in HER account; when I inquired why, she retorted that since I had done business in California with a classmate of mine and got paid $5700 for my effort, I had essentially made back the initial $5K I had withdrawn from my account and "netted" an extra $700; therefore, since I netted $700, she should also make $700;

2) 2004 Japan - $10K as she made arrangements with the travel agency; took 350K yen, came back with 130K unspent yen (app. $1100); no change for me.

BTW, her degree was in accounting ...........

Yeah but we still love ya here on this board:) What does she get? :mad:

What we offer here is priceless;)

[Karen]

Aww heck, Ocean, why does it matter which account it's going into? Surely your wife shares. :D

I know I'll be calling the bank tonight before I crash since we're in an earlier time zone, and seeing if a direct deposit's been made yet.

[oceanpacific]

Aww heck, Ocean, why does it matter which account it's going into? Surely your wife shares. :D

I know I'll be calling the bank tonight before I crash since we're in an earlier time zone, and seeing if a direct deposit's been made yet.

In any event, I wish you a boat load of $$$$ ....... and soon! :D

[Karen]

Ocean, I wish the same for you!

I phoned the bank last night and it's before ten AM and just phoned again. Nope...no auto-deposit, yet. :(

[lavagal]

I wonder how much Dubbya spends in a day on transportation, food, clothing, phone service, internet. $600? $1,200?

How can I think this man understands that the $1,800 we are getting for our family is being used to pay down debt? What does he want us to do? Go out to dinner? Buy a fur coat? Spend the weekend in a hotel? How about gas, groceries and a mortgage payment? I won't turn it down, but be realistic about where it's all going!

[Karen]

It's in the bank! Phoned today and 1200. was direct deposited sometime since I called yesterday.

Lava, I think he knows. There's millions of us and he's hoping many of us go shopping. Really, it's a dang miracle we got even this, so like you I won't refuse it, and am thankful for it.

[craigwatanabe]

Well at least he's giving it back to you instead of putting it in a social subsidy program where it'll eventually be used as an EBT purchase to buy cigarettes and liquor from the corner mom and pop store. Heck $1800 is better than nothing at all. That money is to offset the money that will go to your mortgage payment, gas and groceries.

Hey it's your president telling you, "Look I know times are bad so here's a few hundred of your hard earned tax dollars for you to spend. Have a good time and enjoy life for that moment".

Or you can do the Democratic thing and spit in his face after you cashed it. Remember, it is your money, you deserve to spend it. Bush is allowing you to have that opportunity. It may be a bit selfish, but heck the gap group wage earners can use a break now and then, welfare recipients get they subsidy and free medical. It's about time middle-class "bulk of the tax income" folk get some kind of reward for their efforts.

If you feel your Economic Stimulus Package check should go to the poor, then donate it. I'm sure the person or organization receiving it will be more appreciative of it than those who feel this check is a waste of money.

So where is all that money going? Back into the economy where it's needed. If you spend it retail wise it'll go to the companies that employ workers, investors that keep corporations alive and well (remember no takers for Aloha Airlines).

If you put it in the bank, those banks can be more resiliant to economic hard times and make it easier to loan money to those who need it.

If you pay your electric bill with it (like me) it keeps HECO in the black instead of the red where it would have to ask for a rate increase.

So if you spend it or save it, it has an impact on our economy.

[lavagal]

I'm not spitting in the president's face. I just think his own existence is very far removed from the reality of America. I donate to the poor. Although a lot of times I feel like I am the poor, I know there are those who are in a very difficult place.

[oceanpacific]

As of ten minutes ago, no appearance of either the tax return or the stimulus payment in the bank account. :eek:

[Leo Lakio]

Hurrah, lavagal.

Just a couple of nights ago, the AF & I were discussing the ESP, and what we plan to do with ours. Since, as many people have pointed out, it is our money to do with as we wish, we are donating it to a number of charitable and non-profit causes.

Since our political viewpoints differ greatly from those of our current President, the majority of the recipients of our largesse (!) are likely to be causes of which he would not approve.

Spit in his face? Not at all. In fact, we appreciate his efforts to support those causes so much, we might even make said contributions in his honor.

[Karen]

Ocean, I could be wrong but I think.....that you will get your return first, and then the rebate at a later date.

Have you been waiting long for the rebate? did you file by April 15? We filed back in Feb. and had our return direct deposited within ten? or less days, can't recall but if you have waited for direct deposit more than ten days I'd be on the phone and emailing around, asking what the deal is.

[oceanpacific]

A few times, I've had to file for extensions. But, not this year. I was done a week early and did not have to do that just-before-midnight run to the post office.

In fact, one thing I promised myself was to not ever risk being "interrogated" by the TV reporters as to why I procrastinated. To be seen on TV by my friends for that would be humiliating! :eek:

[helen]

I filed my federal tax forms in late March and I got my tax refund about a week ago. I haven't received the rebate yet.

[Leo Lakio]

I filed in early April, just a few days before the deadline (not my usual m.o. - but it's been a busy year), and my refund arrived today - fewer than three weeks have passed.

[Karen]

Ocean, procrastinating on taxes...humiliating?? :eek:

Sounds more like a badge of honor type of thing. The only reason we filed in Feb.was to get past it and forget it.

[oceanpacific]

Ocean, procrastinating on taxes...humiliating?? :eek:

Sounds more like a badge of honor type of thing. The only reason we filed in Feb.was to get past it and forget it.

Believe me, if I ever appeared on one of those TV interviews for that, I'd NEVER hear the end of it. NEVER! :eek:

[Bobinator]

I don't see anything wrong with the tax rebate thing, aside from the fact that it cost millions to send a stupid letter telling us about it. But that's not Bush's fault. That's red tape stuff.

Bush did a tax rebate earlier during his first term, and it did well for the economy. The Dems learned from this, which is probably why they agreed with Bush this time around without incident.

I feel it stands to reason that tax contributors, rich or poor, should get a rebate in accordance with their contribution. What we make annually is our problem, not the Federal Government, and certainly not the President. Cross over onto that side and you're flirting with socialism. Government's job regarding taxes should be "fair" to all, not play Robin Hood.

[Karen]

Ocean, I hear ya and I think most of us would be "given a hard time" about getting caught in one cuz of the timing. They are great at catching folks that are distracted, to say the least.

Bob, the cost of that letter was absurd, just like the millions that have been spent "studying" the rail issue, an issue that we may yet vote down.

[craigwatanabe]

Well the checks must have started coming in. Yesterday I was doing some light grocery shopping at KTA (sales ads effective as of Wednesday) and there was a super long line at the store's Bank of Hawaii branch inside past the checkstands. The grocery bagger was astounded at the line and asked me if I knew what was going on?

At first I thought maybe the welfare checks were in, but a quick glance at the line told me otherwise unless welfare recipients dress up in standard office attire.

Then I heard one guy go, "Woo Hoo" then another astonished sigh from another, and a, "yes yes yes" from a woman at another teller's window. I looked at the bagger and said, Economic Stimilus Check came in I bet":D

[salmoned]

I don't see anything wrong with the tax rebate thing, aside from the fact that it cost millions to send a stupid letter telling us about it. But that's not Bush's fault. That's red tape stuff.

Bush did a tax rebate earlier during his first term, and it did well for the economy. The Dems learned from this, which is probably why they agreed with Bush this time around without incident.

I feel it stands to reason that tax contributors, rich or poor, should get a rebate in accordance with their contribution. What we make annually is our problem, not the Federal Government, and certainly not the President. Cross over onto that side and you're flirting with socialism. Government's job regarding taxes should be "fair" to all, not play Robin Hood.

You really don't see anything wrong with the government increasing the national debt for a small and temporary economic 'stimulus', thereby obligating future taxpayers to repay a much larger amount (with accrued interest) later? It's robbing the future for the comfort of the present. Why not have a decade long tax holiday? After all, we can just keep printing the money to pay the bills for as long as we want. Just think, if we devalue the dollar enough, the U.S. will soon become the low-cost producer for everything we produce and our GDP will explode (in dollar terms)! It's not as if this stimulus will ever 'pay for itself' in future income. It is simply pandering to a 'free lunch' mentality, similar to the proposed gas tax holiday to be paid for by 'windfall' oil company profits. The government would do better to pay an ad agency to convince us the economy is doing just fine, thank you, your home entering foreclosure notwithstanding.

[craigwatanabe]

Man give the public some money and sheez! Look if the majority of the public (I'd say the Democrats) doesn't want their ESP checks they can always direct at least $72.5 Billion into organizations that will benefit education, medical, welfare or anything else Democrats feel Bush isn't putting enough into. Think of it like personal Block Grants to whatever organization you feel fit that deserves it.

[Leo Lakio]

we are donating it to a number of charitable and non-profit causes.Change of plans - putting aside the lists we were making (of our charitable choices), the money is instead going to Iowa flood relief efforts.

It's been 24 years since I left Cedar Rapids, but I gotta help out the peeps from my past life, no?

[oceanpacific]

You're a better man than me, Leo. I'm taking my AF along to Vegas to a company sales summit. I have to pay for her airfare and with the airline tickets costing a lot more these days, that check comes in handy.

[Leo Lakio]

You're a better man than me, Leo.Nah-nah-nah - I'm not gonna pass judgement on how anybody uses their check. No "better" than you in any way, op.

If I had gotten it three years ago, or even while I was unemployed last year, I might spend it differently. But a number of factors have led me to look closely at how I "use" my finances. I've made some changes, and am fortunate to be able to do this at this time.

[oceanpacific]

Got the "stimulus" funds and paid for the LV trip. It was less expensive to book a tour package which included a hotel than to just book airfare. We'll only use the package accommodations the first and last nights while the company picks up the tab for the five-star resort. :D