• Shoebuy: 20% off with coupon code EMLJULYFOURTH08
• Rite Aid: Special Deals (Cheap, Free after Rebate, or Make $)
• Amazon: Deals on Vittles Vaults pet food containers, like the 30 lb pet food Vittles Vault II for $5.84 (down from $22.99)

• Dell Home: Buy one Dell XPS 420 desktop or M1530 notebook and another of either two systems for 50% off.
• Puma.com: Save an Extra 20% off All Shoes & Apparel Orders with Coupon
• Geeks.com: Motion M1300 12.1-inch Tablet PC $340 with Coupon

Here's another common question...

Q. I have moved since filing my 2007 tax return. How will my payment reach me?

A. You should file a Form 8822 with the IRS and a change of address notice with the U.S. Postal Service. This will ensure your check is sent to your new address. Without your current address, the check could be returned to the IRS as undeliverable.

Economic Stimulus Payments: Most Frequently Asked Questions [IRS]

I have a question about the Stimulus Checks that we will all be receiving. If we owe money to the IRS from our 2007 tax year, will it be deducted from the stimulus check and the remainder passed on to me? In a normal situation, I would say yes. Considering that the IRS wants you to spend it all to boost the economy and not pay off debt with it, it also makes sense to give it all to me. Do you know what the correct answer is? Thank you for your time.

Well, Adam, the answer is "maybe you will get it and maybe you won't." The IRS has the right to withhold payments if you have certain kinds of debts. Student loans in default or unpaid child support, in addition to unpaid tax obligations, are cause for the IRS to confiscate your money and they are generally not too shy about doing so. Whether they are set up to withhold this special payment is anyone's guess. The IRS initially addressed this issue on their stimulus payment FAQ, but that question has been mysteriously deleted.

Phoung Cat Le at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has a great tax rebate FAQ, for those of you who have more questions.

Answers to tax rebate questions [Seattle P-I]

So what do you do? The Tax Cat has taken a break from his vacation to let us know that those of you who were unaware that sending your tax refund to your IRA would send your stimulus check to the same account can withdraw the rebate without incurring any penalties:

To qualify for this relief, funds must be taken out by April 15, 2009, in most cases. Without this relief, taxes, penalties and other special rules would apply to amounts removed from these accounts. Regular refunds are not eligible for this relief.

Eligible tax-favored accounts include traditional and Roth IRAs, health savings accounts (HSAs), Archer MSAs, Coverdell education savings accounts (ESAs) and qualified tuition programs, also known as QTPs or 529 plans. Thus, for example, a taxpayer whose $1,200 stimulus payment is directly deposited into his or her IRA can take out anywhere up to $1,200 from the IRA, tax-free and penalty-free.

In general, the deadline for these withdrawals is the due date or extended due date for filing a 2008 return. This means April 15, 2009, for most taxpayers, or Oct. 15, 2009, for those who obtain tax-filing extensions.

Information on how to claim this relief will be included in your 2008 tax instructions.

Relief for Stimulus Payments Withdrawn from IRAs and Tax-Favored Accounts
[IRS]
Tax Cat [Facebook]

Tax rebates to start arriving Monday [CNN Money] (Thanks to Caren!)
(Photo: MBru)

5. Myth: The tax rebate is taxable income and I'll have to pay taxes on it next year.

Fact: The rebate is a rebate. It is not taxable income. You will not have to pay taxes on this money.

4. Myth: People who aren't normally required to file a tax return can't get the rebate.

Fact: If you have at least $3,000 in certain types of income, you may be eligible for the economic stimulus payment. People who qualify include Social Security Recipients, Veterans Affairs Recipients, Railroad Retirement Recipients, and Low-Wage Workers.

3. Myth: The IRS will call or email you about your rebate check, and they can help you get it faster if you give them your bank account information.

Fact: The IRS is not going to contact you about speeding up this rebate check, and they never contact anyone via email. Ever. At all. Filers who used direct deposit will see their money more quickly, but no one can help you get it "faster." You will receive your money based on the last two digits of your social security number. You can check out the schedule by clicking here. Don't give out your banking info to scammers!

2. Myth: I don't qualify for the rebate because I'm a stay-at-home mom and don't make $3,000.

Fact: If you're married, filing a joint return, and have $3,000 in taxable income between you — you qualify for the rebate.

1. Myth: This is just an advance on next year's tax return! I'll get less next year!

Fact: This is incorrect. Marketplace's Tess Vigeland figured out where this silly little rumor was coming from: "the last time the federal government issued checks, back in 2001,the stimulus was indeed an advance, of sorts, on the Bush administration's tax cuts. The bottom line went from 15 percent 10 percent. So, maybe folks are assuming that it is the same this time. It is not. This is not an advance on next year's refund."

We know you're all sad that tax season is over, but you can always snuggle up to Tax Cat on Facebook.

(Photos:Chad Beckerman)

Clause 5-B: Return all check stubs and rebate check claims separately.
Clause C-1: Notify the National Energy Rebate fund on or before the 17th day after the dealer gives you a rebate check.
Clause 3: You can only apply no earlier than the 47th month after the issue date AND no later than the 30th day after.
Clause 4: You can't be reminded or encouraged by the media or any other reminder service.

Customers across the US have complained about the onerous rebate requirements, prompting the states of Wisconsin and Utah have charged the National Energy Rebate fund with charges of deceptive marketing. Get Gephardt investigates and pays a visit to the company headquarters.

Transcript:

t sounds like a great deal: buy a product and get a huge chunk of your money back. It's called a rebate. But when several people across the country say they couldn't collect thousands of dollars owed to them, it was time to get Gephardt.

A rebate, by Utah definition, is part of a sales deal where the customer gets some money back. It's an incentive, often, to get a customer to buy. But in the case of the "National Energy Rebate Fund," it seems to be less of a rebate and more a contest.

Four years ago, Thomas Bartlett had brand new windows installed throughout his home and he picked his installer, he says, because of a special incentive...

"They said, hey we have this great rebate you can get back," says Thomas.

The rebate was offered by the 'national energy rebate fund' and for Thomas, it meant he could get 50 percent of his $14,000 dollars paid back.

"With the rebate, we thought we'd save some money," says Thomas.

Now, like any rebate, there are specific rules to follow. Here's are the rules for the Thomas's rebate:

"Ensure that the relevant sections of both this rebate check are accurate and complete...sign and date...have been charged an amount...return the check stub section...original bill of sale...photocopy of valid passport or driver's license...lease or credit agreement...copy of recent utility bills...failure to do so will invalidate your claim."

Carefully following the rules, Thomas filed a claim for his $7,600 rebate. But instead of a check...

Denied!!

Thomas was denied because of the second part of clause five "B," Thomas "did not send registrations separately." And there is no second chance at getting his $7,600 rebate.

And these rules are rather complicated.

Clause C-1: notify the national energy rebate fund "on or before the 17th day" after the dealer gives you a rebate check. Then, clause 3: you can only apply no earlier than "the 47th month after the issue date." and "later than the 30th day after."
And clause 4: you can't be "reminded or encouraged by the media or any other reminder service," to do all this. And there's a lot more. Is this really a rebate, or is it more of a game to see who can follow the rules?

And we're not the only ones to raise that question.

The state of Wisconsin is suing the National Energy Rebate Fund saying their rebate offer is deceptive. And here in Utah, the division of consumer protection has cited the company with 3 counts of deception.

We tracked the rebate company to Colorado to find out if they think the rebate offer is rather tricky.

Tim Stubbs is the president of the National Energy Rebate Fund in Grand Junction.

Bill asked, "just want to know if you really try to give rebates to people or if you try to keep people from getting rebates."

"No, people get paid," said Tim.

Indeed, Wayne Hemple got a $2,150 rebate on two fireplaces he bought. He is one of 23 people whose photo is on the company's website with a giant check and here's something you don't often see with rebates...company officials presenting the checks.

Wayne says he knows people who missed just one step or rule, and failed to get the promised rebate.

"Does it seem like an ordinary way of getting a rebate?" Bill asked Wayne.

"No...absolutely not. No, it doesn't, I did get the money but like I said, it is a game. It was a game that I was playing real hard," said Wayne.

For example, what could the purpose be of clause 4, the one that says customers can only be reminded of rebate deadlines by the national energy rebate fund, not by the media or any other reminder service?

Bill asked Tim, "Can you explain to me why?"

"Get out. Out," said Tim.

"—You have clause 4 in there. The clause that people aren't even allowed to be reminded."

"—they get a reminder."

"—no, but a reminder from someone else. It all seems silly to me."

Tim responded, "If a dealer was to insert himself in the role of helping or assisting a consumer, and he did it wrong then he could be held liable."

"—Why?" asked Bill.

"—We've had dealers tell them the wrong thing."

Bill said, "I think you're trying to keep...if you find out that somebody's even been reminded. I think you're trying to keep rebates from people."

Tim responded, "There are certain people that will not claim in accordance with the terms and conditions."

All the rules are explained up front, Tim says, even the part where if too many consumers make a 100 percent proper claim at once, if there isn't enough money in the rebate fund that month, consumers won't get their full rebate.

But is that really a rebate then?

Tim Stubbs admitted off camera that maybe they shouldn't call it a rebate...but something else.

While Tim agreed to come to our studios to do an interview, his lawyer said he would not be coming in this letter to me.

The letter also says by telling you this story, I am violating clause 4. That is, even though news of the national energy rebate fund is all over the internet, I am now reminding holders of some 50-million dollars worth of these rebates in the country and therefore the National Energy Rebate Fund may never have to pay another claim.

Utah ruled against the National Energy Rebate Fund for deception last week. Wisconsin has a trail set for early 2009.

Get Gephardt - Company Tactics To Keep Your Rebate Money [KUTV]

I sent everything in as requested, and when they posted my rebate, they claimed that I did not submit the UPC. Luckily, not only did I follow all the directions, but from an article I read on your site, I took photo pictures of my original submission.

Rob's letter to Paragao, and his deliciously damning photographic proof of their lies, inside.

Please be advised that it has been commonplace for companies offering rebates to lie about contents of the submissions and to deny rebates to customers who faithfully follow the instructions provided by the company.

[I] am put on suspicion that your company may be involved in this sort of fraudulent activity. If these rebates are not approved and received in a timely manner, I will be forced to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and to initiate a lawsuit. It is unacceptable for companies to not honor their rebate offers.

Rebates are scams. Rebates are scams. We'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that rebates are scams.

David L. wrote us, looking for help. He ordered a Sirius Starmate Replay Radio from Costco.com, lured by the promise of a $50 rebate. Needless to say, after 9 months of chasing that 50 bucks back, Sirius still hasn't given it to him.

Unfortunately, we really don't have much help to give. David, you are likely never going to see that rebate. Rebate houses are structured so purposely convoluted that getting a rebate back will almost always require Herculean endurance, even if (by random chance in the godless universe of customer service) you somehow manage to satisfy all of their arcane requirements.

This is a reminder: rebates should never be taken into account when you buy something, unless the rebate is either so absolutely amazing you just have to give it a shot and are willing to fight to the death for it. Otherwise, you need to treat rebates like lending money to a friend: don't part with money you can't afford to lose. Only, in this case, you're lending money to your worst enemy.

David's email, after the jump.

Last December, in preparation for the arrival of Howard Stern and a great rebate offer, I purchased a Sirius Starmate Replay radio from Costco.com. The wonderful folks on the FatWallet forums pointed me in the direction of a $50 rebate form (housed directly on Sirius.com servers) that very explicitly states that, although units purchased at Costco were not eligible for a rebate, units purchased on Costco.com were indeed eligible for the $50. Please see the attached pdf of the rebate form.

I submitted it on December 24 (well ahead of the 1/31 deadline) and had the rebate rejected on 2/27 due to "Non compliance — offer good only at participating retailers). I was given a deadline of April 9 to resubmit the form. I resubmitted the form and heard nothing. A CSR in May informed me that I was still in non-compliance, because purchases at Costco were not eligible. When I patiently explained that I ordered it from Costco.com, which was specifically permitted on the rebate form, he told me to send the materials to a special "resubmit address" and it would be taken care of.

Having heard nothing by mid June I called again, was told the same thing, then given a special fax number to send all my documents. I faxed the original rebate form and heard nothing again. August 9 rolled around and I sent a perturbed e-mail to Sirius and received a response that said, in part:

Please note receivers purchased from BJ's, Costco, Sam's Club, Target
and Wal-Mart are not eligible for this offer. This includes their
online counterparts.

I spoke with a CSR who said she had no record of receiving my fax and asked me to fax it again and e-mail it, which I did on August 9.

Finally, on August 23 I received another response informing me that receivers purchased at Costco were not eligible.

My last two e-mails (8/23 and 9/19) have received no response.

If only I could get through to Howard, I'm sure this would be resolved instantly.