Confusion Over the Tax "Rebate"

February 8th, 2008

With all of the talk about the anticipated tax rebate from the government, a lot has still not been clarified. One important detail for which I have not yet heard a definitive answer: Is this an advance on 2008’s anticipated tax refund or is this “free” (using that term very loosely) money from the government?

FMF just posted the same question and linked to a CNN article that supposedly included the sentence:

The checks are an advance on next year’s refunds, and most, if not all of the money, will be deducted from taxpayers’ refunds in 12 months’ time.

But by the time I accessed the article, no such sentence could be found. Add to that the various commentary from other bloggers and commenters and it’s apparent that nobody knows for sure what’s going on.

Why won’t someone of authority stand up in front of the American public and state matter-of-factly what this “rebate” truly is? Are they afraid to stir up further discontent by admitting it’s an advance? Do they not pay enough attention to notice the mass confusion? Or, worse, do they not even know the answer themselves?

UPDATE: The question has been answered. The rebate is not an advance.