HouseKeeping, Corrections and Credits Do Not Call - a couple of weeks ago I gave you a link to a do-not-call site. They charge $5.00 for you to register. Several of you wrote to TaxMama to tell us about a GOOD URL to use: http://donotcall.gov/ Please thank Karl Green, EA of Goodbye Debt, Hello Wealth. He was the FIRST person to send me this link. I just tried it on THREE phone numbers. The confirmation page says: "This registration will be effective until 7/12/2008." Once you register, if you still get calls, here's the place to complain. ------ Non-Profits - Join Wired.org and TaxMama on September 16-19, 2003 Nonprofits and NGOs Work the Web ------ Credits - My friends, what is it about "Please don't ask Child Tax Rebate questions. Please Use this Calculator." that is SO hard to understand? Despite the polite request, I get MANY questions about this each day. So, here's the scoop, since it's the primary thing on your mind: It is NOT a gift of EXTRA money from the government. It is an advance on your refund from next year. Yes, that means if you get it in this round, you will get LESS money when you file the 2003 tax return. I DON'T KNOW WHEN you're going to get your refund. Congress made promises about them going out this month. That is logistically IMPOSSIBLE. It was irresponsible of Congress to make that promise. Do you have any idea of the gargantuan task it is to process these checks correctly - so money doesn't go out to people who aren't entitled; to order all the extra check stock to be printed; to field all the millions of extra phone calls coming in asking about this, despite IRS asking people just to wait? Do you know how many people who's wages are being attached, or bank accounts are being levied can't get through to IRS because you are calling about your rebate? No, I don't know EXACTLY who will get it. But I know who won't get it. If you meet any of these criteria, stop waiting for it: You haven't filed your tax return yet You owe money to IRS, any state agency, have outstanding motor violations fines; owe child support that is being collected through the Attorney General's office; ripped off the student loan system; got too much Social Security You generally don't pay taxes - you get an Earned Income Credit. You have no children Again, I offer you this perfectly servicable calculator to plug in from Smart Money your own income, expense and dependent numbers to see where you stand. STOP ASKING. IF YOU GET IT, you'll get it. If not, you'll get it next year. All right,I realize that for some people, getting that exra money now, really IS a big deal. It really can make the differnce between making a payment or having a car repossessed, or paying the landlord SOMETHING, instead of getting evicted. Really, I understand. But asking won't bring it any faster. Just run your finances as though this were not coming your way. If you get it, rejoice. Use it wisely. Remember, it's your OWN money, coming six months early. ------ This just in from a Tax Pro To see if YOU qualify for the Advanced Rebate on the Child Care Credit, click here

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