Checks from IRS on their way to millions of families with children

Associated Press ^ | 07-26-03

[Brian S]

The Treasury Department is mailing out checks worth up to $400 per child to more than 25 million middle-income households, a summertime windfall from tax cuts enacted in May.

Jodi Mendoza, 38, of Portland, Ore., said she plans to use at least some of the money to buy school clothes and supplies for her three children.

[Drango]

Children's Defense Fund estimated that military families with 1 million children fall into that category.

The Children's Defense Fund doesn't care one iota about the children of the miltary. Not one.

[Jeff Chandler]

Almost half this article is devoted to slandering Bush and the Republicans.

[LasVegasMac]

Those are families that earn between $10,500 and roughly $26,000, and the Children's Defense Fund estimated that military families with 1 million children fall into that category.

That is truly sad.

The "WIC wagons" are a blight on any military installation - and a very pointed piece of evidence that the troops need better pay.

LVM

[lmr]

And more than 6.5 million low-income families do not pay enough income tax to qualify for the bigger credit and will not get checks

They don't pay tax at all... And they get BIG checks with the "Earned Income Credit" at regular tax time that I don't get. Why should you get a refund if you don't pay tax anyway? What a joke. Just another form of welfare. What the hell does "Earned Income Credit" mean anyway? Like you earned it or something. Most of these people are Nomads going from job to job with long periods of interim inbetween each Job. They are not slighted like this article suggests.

By the way, I get $1200 (THE MAX), because I have 3 children. I paid far more in taxes than that! I think I deserve more, but am thankful that dubya gave me that. Thank You Mr. President!

[prisoner6]

At risk of sounding like one of >them< I have to ask someone to explain this to me. If a family pays no tax, they get no refund. Sounds logical to me. If a family pays... say...200 dollars they get all or part of that back. I'm still with the program.

But some of the ratz I have to deal with are telling me otherwise. Those who pay no taxes get nothing but if a family pays any tax amount at all - even ten dollars - they get a check for 400 bucks - 390 dollars MORE than they paid.

If that's the case then I would have to agree with them that the lower income families who paid NO tax should also get something.

Of course I would prefer that the whoule IRS be scrapped in the first place. Let me keep my money and collect revenues from sales or flat tax. Forget about all this refund stuff.

prisoner6

[DPB101]

more than 25 million middle-income households

This must kill the rats, just kill them. They mount this huge propaganda campaign, people who are not paying much attention half-way tune in and half-way believe Bush is a bad guy and then a check from the Feds shows up in the mail.

GOP should pass another tax cut next year and time the checks to arrive on Nov 1st.

[ImphClinton]

Wish I could afford clothes for my kids to go to school.

I can't I do not qualify for this. My kids will have to wear their old clothes.

A Children tax credit should espically go to children that need it.

You should all be ashamed. You are certinally not good Samaritians. Which of the others are you? Guess the uncaring rich.

How much of your tax cut will go to sending more jobs overseas. My old programming job is now done in India other Indians here in America also apply for the 50 or so jobs nationwide that are advertized. I am not wanted they only want H1B's.

My wives job is also now done overseas she used to work for a call center. That leaves us precious little choice but very low paying jobs. Neither of us drinks or does drugs. We are willing to work but the work is no longer in America.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Of course I would prefer that the whoule IRS be scrapped in the first place. Let me keep my money and collect revenues from sales or flat tax. Forget about all this refund stuff.

I agree, but I'll go one step further. I think this rebate junk is political pandering and I don't like it. I don't like politicians doling out my money to me when they decide to.

I realize in this case the rebate is an expedited tax cut , but it also seems to have too many qualifiers. What about the tax-payers w/o children? Let's give a permanent,across-the-board tax cut.

[cherry]

we are not getting anything because our youngest turned 18 this year, but her and her sister still live here and we throw a few bucks our son's way now and then...

we don't fit into any category that rates a peep....

[boxerblues]

You should all be ashamed. You are certinally not good Samaritians. Which of the others are you? Guess the uncaring rich

I for one am not ashamed! I'm not one of the rich by anymeans, we live paycheck to paycheck, not a lot of extras pay our bills, and have a small savings. Over the last 12 years both me and my husband have been out of jobs 6 times. We took no handouts from the gov't or anybody else, which meant taking 2-3 lower paying jobs at a time to manage. We paid very little into the system at the time and yet when we were unemployed where the years we got the biggest refunds from the IRS. As far as Im concerned the tax break is overdue for working families.

[WellsFargo94]

"They come home from work after sunset and leave again after sunrise," said Rep. Bob Menendez, D-N.J. "They live in our midst, never complain, and work, work, work."...

Those are families that earn between $10,500 and roughly $26,000...

...used their Web site to collect child credit checks and donate them to groups helping low-income families.

...The fact that lower income people get the rawest deal (especially minimum-wage workers) makes it all the more horrifying to hardworking parents like me."

I thought that they never complained???

Sorry, but if your too stupid or lazy to at least get vocational training what the heck do they expect???? They can go to friggin' school for free too!!! Also, they need to consider that they aren't paying as much in taxes, and then there are the yearly tax refunds for being poor. Let's not also forget the subsidized housing, child-care, breakfast and lunch programs, etc. Who might be paying for all that???? All of us refund receipients ...that's who!

[WellsFargo94]

WIC is an excellent program and it also includes those families in a higher tax bracket or families with a gazillion kids, than your normal social service program.

WIC teaches nutrition, monitors children's growth, weight, well-being. There are also restrictions as to what can and can't be purchased.

I have a lot more respect for a program that actually gets the client involved beyond opening an envelope and cashing a check.

[azhenfud]

I understand exactly what you're saying.

It really infuriates me to hear someone claim they get a "tax refund" when they are given a check equal to a third of their earnings and their witholdings have been less than a pittance.

No "refund" should EVER exceed the taxes paid in - period.

[doosee]

I can't I do not qualify for this. My kids will have to wear their old clothes.

If you and your wife both lost their jobs and are working now for much less money, why dont you qualify?

[Jim Noble]

The benefit starts to phase out for married couples who make more than $110,000 and single parents who earn more than $75,000

Why?

[kailbo]

Because we punish success in this country.

[Alissa]

Here's my example that finally was the bottom line for me: back in the 80's Hawaii, 'ruled' for years and years by the Democrats, subsidized those making under $30K to buy a home. If you made over that amount your state income taxes went into helping those people buy their homes. You try buying a home in Hawaii with an income of $35K, even $60K! Not possible!! I guess the state considered you rich!

[RightOnline]

I haven't quite figured out their "cut off date"; e.g. only applies to children born after Dec. 31, 1989. I have seven children..........three now out of the nest as of this year, but had five claimed as exemptions (#3 kid was 16 last year), but only four "counted". What's up with that??

[RightOnline]

Correction...typed 1989, but meant 1986.