Tax rebates worth $600 going out to thousands of Americans this week – you can now track it thanks to a new tool

HUNDREDS of thousands of Americans are receiving tax rebates worth $600 this week, and they now have a new tracker to see where they are on the list.

These payments are part of an Idaho rebate approved by Governor Brad Little this year.

The amount each Idaho full resident earns will be calculated based on their most recent, approved 2020 tax return information on file.

For the 2022 Special Session rebate, that means individuals will earn $300, while joint filers get $600.

Or, if the amount is greater, residents will receive 10 percent of the tax amount they reported on Form 40 (line 20) or Form 43 (line 42).

The earlier 2022 rebate gives each taxpayer and dependent $75 or 12 percent of the tax amount reported on Form 40 (line 20) or Form 43 (line 42), whichever is higher.

Who’s eligible?

All Idaho residents who lived in the state in 2020 and 2021 and filed an Idaho income tax return or Form 24 during those years are eligible for the rebate.

To be classified as a full-year resident, you must have either kept a home in Idaho for the full year and spent more than 270 days there.

How do I get my money?

While rebates started getting sent out in September, you can still get your tax rebate as long as you file your 2020 and 2021 income tax return by December 31, a spokesperson from the Idaho Tax Commission said to The Sun.

If you provided valid bank information in your 2021 tax return, you should expect to see the payment as a direct deposit.

Everyone else will be mailed the refund as a check to their most recent address on file.

The payments have been going out since late September, based on the order of the date the 2021 tax returns were received.

The Idaho Tax Commission said around 75,000 payments are going out each week, but they will continue sending checks through 2022 and 2023 as taxpayers file their returns.

The majority are said to have already been issued, but more are to come this week.

Track your status

The new tool Idaho has unveiled is called Where’s My Rebate and tracks the status of the 2022 rebate. 

Soon, it will also track the 2022 Special Session rebate.

The tool can be used at any time, and all you need is:

• Your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
• Your Idaho driver's license number, state-issued ID number, or 2021 Idaho income tax return

If your address has changed since you’ve filed your 2021 return, you need to email RebateAddressUpdate@tax.idaho.gov to update your address and get your rebate.

Idaho residents should know that all tax rebates received will go first to any tax debts they have with the Tax Commission.

This could be owed income tax, sales tax, withholding tax or unpaid child support.

Keep in mind, all rebates are not taxable to Idaho but could be federally.

Other states offering direct payments

As inflation continues to impact everyday Americans, several other state governments have approved direct payments to help out residents.

In Cook County, Illinois, more than 3,000 households will get $500 a month as an automatic income each month.

Residents must be at least 18 years old, with income that's 250 percent of the federal poverty level.

In California, the first round of tax rebates will go out to residents.

This means millions of Californians will see payments from $200 to $1,050 to combat inflation.

Alaska residents are also getting a payment through a combination of the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) and a one-time energy relief payment.

Together, the payment is worth $3,284.

Here’s the full list of tax rebates going out this month.

Also, these are the dozens of states and cities offering a universal basic income.