Stimulus payment - forgot to include Soc Sec income

[Jim K]

A client called wanting to know why they haven't gotten their stimulus rebate. After checking my files, I realized that I had forgotten to include his Social Security benefits on the 1040. This was the only qualified income he had, so that explains why he hasn't received his rebate. My question is should I file an amended return and if I do, will he get a rebate yet this year?

[JohnH]

Maybe somebody has a direct answer, but I'd go ahead & re-file on paper.

You and he have nothing to lose by re-filing.

The worst case is that he will get his rebate in 2009 and it won't cost him anything since you'll be doing that one for free, right?.

[taxtrio]

The IRS will be sending out rebates through the end of 2008. So, yes --- file something.

It will get processed and they will get their rebate.

I would probably do an amendment and mark the top as a "stimulus rebate return".

[lsowers]

I may be wrong, but I remember reading that stimulus payments will not be sent from amended returns. You may have to wait until the 2008 return is filed. I would check the faq on irs.gov.

[JohnH]

True, but there may be another round of rebates according to some rumors emanating from Washington (that's the place where all the wisdom resides for solving all our problems, whatever they might be).

So it might be helpful to get anything right that can be corrected now.

[Jim K]

Thank you for the helpful replies. I'll prepare an amended return and mark it "stimulus rebate return" at the top. Of course, I won't charge for correcting my error - I'll offer to do next year's return for no charge.