tax rebate

Your neighbor got one. So did your brother-in-law. Your loud-mouth co-worker received his last week and spent it at the track.

You, however, haven't gotten your tax rebate yet. What gives?

Hand over your check to a retailer and you'll get a 10% bonus to spend. It's tempting. But wouldn't you rather buy your freedom than power tools or a few extra groceries?

I won't be getting an economic-stimulus tax rebate check, but I'm not complaining about it. Not only am I fortunate to make too much money to qualify for a rebate, but I'm getting something far more valuable than the maximum $1,200 my wife and I could have gotten.

Thanks to a relatively little-noticed portion of the stimulus package, we'll be able to refinance our house more cheaply than we otherwise could, or presumably sell it for more.

By investing in a portfolio of losers that became winners after the 1990-91 recession, you could turn a small gift from the government into something meaningful.

Checks will soon be cut as part of Washington's plan to stimulate the economy. Before you spend yours, make sure you're really getting one.

The IRS announced last week that it will start distributing the money on May 2, based on the last two digits of your Social Security number.

For married couples, the schedule will be based on the Social Security number of the spouse whose name appears first on the return.

Though you can't change your Social Security number, there are other steps you can take to speed your rebate, even if your last two digits fall at the high end of the range.

The IRS will begin sending out the first of 130 million economic stimulus checks May 2. When you get yours depends on your Social Security number.

The IRS on Monday said it would begin sending out 130 million tax rebate payments aimed at boosting the economy on May 2.

The IRS on Monday said it would begin sending out 130 million tax rebate payments aimed at boosting the economy on May 2.

OK, so maybe not all your tax rebate, but a big chunk of it.