Tom Shean

Jun. 14, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Economists already have credited the government's economic-stimulus payments with boosting retail sales. Meanwhile, some individuals wonder whether the IRS payments will ever reach their bank accounts or mail boxes.

"We've had calls from several people who filed their 2007 tax returns and expected to receive payments by direct deposit" but haven't, said Paul Harrison, coordinator of the Community Tax Law Project's low-income taxpayer clinic. The Richmond-based organization helps low-income individuals throughout the state resolve tax-related problems.

Another client, a widow who relies on her late husband's disability payments, hasn't been able to collect her stimulus payment because of problems involving her Social Security number, Harrison said.

Still, the IRS had the stimulus payment program "thrown at them pretty suddenly," Harrison said. "They put together a plan, and, for the most part, it has worked."

As of Friday, the IRS had sent out 76.5 million payments, almost 60 percent of the estimated 130 million being made to bolster the nation's economy. Checks and direct deposits distributed to date have totaled nearly $63.9 billion.

"The vast majority of people are getting the payments on schedule," and the program will be largely complete by mid-July, said James Dupree, an IRS spokesman in Baltimore. The distribution schedule is keyed to the last two digits of an individual's Social Security number. The lower the number, the sooner the payment is made.

The government's economic stimulus program calls for distributing as much as $600 to individuals and as much as $1,200 to married couples. The program also includes payments of $300 for each eligible child under age 17.

To qualify, an individual must have a valid Social Security, had at least $3,000 of income in 2007, and have filed a tax return for 2007.

The offices of tax-preparation chain Liberty Tax have received relatively few inquiries about delayed IRS payments, said Martha O'Gorman, a spokeswoman for Virginia Beach-based Liberty Tax. Most of the inquiries, she said, involved oversights by taxpayers or a misunderstanding over money that a taxpayer may have owed for back taxes, student loans or child support. Funds from the economic-stimulus program are used to reduce these debts and aren't sent to the individual.

Taxpayers who had filing-preparation fees withheld from their tax refund or used a refund anticipation loan also could encounter a delay. Their payments are being made by check rather than by direct deposit to their bank accounts.

The quickest way for individuals to determine the amount and status of their payment is to check with the IRS online or by phone. The IRS's Web site -- www.irs.gov -- includes an Economic Stimulus Payments Center. Individuals who filed a return by April 15 can learn the size of their payment and when it will be sent by clicking on a "Where's My Stimulus Payment?" feature. The only information required to find the answer is one's Social Security number, filing status and total number of exemptions used in their 2007 tax return.

The IRS also provides this information through its toll-free Rebate Hotline at (866) 234-2942.

However, be wary of e-mails bearing IRS identification and promising to deliver a payment, cautioned the IRS' Dupree. "We never initiate contact by e-mail," he said.

The e-mails, which ask individuals to provide their bank account numbers, appear to be the work of identity thieves.

Tom Shean, (757) 446-2379, tom.shean@pilotonline.com

Newstex ID: KRTB-0212-25985683