Millions in rebates, refunds returned to IRS
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Recovering a regular refund
If it's a regular refund you're awaiting, check the IRS's popular "Where's My Refund?" money tracker. You'll need your Social Security number, filing status and the amount of refund shown on your 2007 return.

The online search option then will provide the status of your refund and, in some cases, provide instructions on how to resolve delivery problems. You'll also be given instructions on how to update your address.

Again, you can check on your refund and update your personal information by calling the IRS, this time at (800) 829-1954.

If you can afford to wait for your refund money or are just too busy right now to be bothered with tracking down missing tax money, you can wait. Your unclaimed tax refund check will find you next filing season when you send in your 2008 return that lists your current, correct address.

Missed deadline means credit, not cash
With a rebate check, however, such procrastination could be costly. You must meet the Nov. 28 address update deadline to get your money this year.

True, if you don't get the correct mailing information into the IRS by then, you'll get another chance in 2008 at a stimulus payment.

But next year the stimulus payment will be in the form of a credit on your tax return, not a separate check as was sent out this year.

And changes in your income and tax situation this year could affect your stimulus amount.

For example, if you have a child that qualified on your 2007 return for the child tax credit, you were eligible for an extra $300. However, if that child in 2008 does not meet the tax credit requirements, you won't get that added economic stimulus money on the return you file next year.

Also, keep in mind that although the stimulus payment was distributed in 2007 as a check, it actually is a tax credit. That means any amount of stimulus for which you qualify on a 2008 return will be accounted for against your tax liability.

This means, for example, if you qualify for a $600 economic stimulus amount on your 2008 return and owe $1,000 in taxes, that $600 will be used to reduce your tax bill. You will not get the $600 as a separate payment.

So if you haven't received your stimulus check yet, contact the IRS, either via the online rebate tracking tool or by phone, as soon as possible. And definitely do so by the Nov. 28 deadline. That's the only way you'll get your rebate money this year.

Freelance writer Kay Bell writes Bankrate's tax stories from her Austin, Texas, home. She also writes two tax blogs, Bankrate's Eye on the IRS, and Don't Mess With Taxes.