In the news lately the Governor of Puerto Rico has been touting off about how he is sending out the Stimulus Rebate to everyone shortly and early. It’s a little bizarre that he is so proud of the fact that he is sending out the payments early because Bush had already announced that he would be sending out the checks…  anyway on with the story.

A few days ago, I received the email below that had been forwarded from someone at my workplace.

To ALL Federal Employees in Puerto Rico

It has come to our attention that many federal employees in Puerto Rico are receiving the Economic Stimulus Payments from Internal Revenue Service and many are direct deposit into their accounts.

When IRS foresaw this possibility, they issue an Alert, which I am attaching to this e-mail because IRS was not able to stop these federal personnel rebates to PR residents.

ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT
U.S. TERRITORY ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENTS - POSSIBLE DUPLICATE REFUNDS

ISSUE:

Individuals residing in the U.S. territories should receive their economic stimulus payment from the territory. If a stimulus payment is received from both the United States Treasury and the territory, the Treasury payment must be returned to the Internal Revenue Service.

The U.S. territories include American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

According to the Office of the Competent Authority, Program Manager for the U.S. Territories, Dee A. Robinson, “If a PR resident is entitled to receive a Stimulus Rebate Payment, they must get it from PR Department of Treasury. Furthermore if they are eligible to get a rebate from PR, they are specifically NOT eligible to get one from IRS”.

Any federal personnel who received the IRS rebate it must be returned promptly to the IRS. Make sure that you follow the following instructions to return the same:

1) If you have cashed the check or it was a direct deposit:

• Submit a payment within 21 days

• Write on check or money order “Payment of Erroneous Refund” or “Direct Deposit”, the “Tax Period” (i.e., 2007), “Account Type” (i.e., 1040), and the Social Security Number.

2) If the person has not cashed the check:

• Write “VOID” in the endorsement section on back of the check.

• Submit within 21 days

• Attach a note stating “Return of Erroneous Refund check”

For more information you may contact the local IRS Office at 1-800-829-1040.

Now my workplace likes to always forward stuff they think is true around, so I really didn’t believe it at first. I then decided to do a little research. I was browsing the IRS’s site and found “Where’s my Stimulus Payment?” They had a date for me to get the refund!

Some more searching on IRS’s site answered the riddle. The FAQ about the Stimulus Rebate has a Q and A

Q. Federal employees residing in some U.S. territories are required to file two tax returns, one with the territory and one with the IRS. Will two checks be issued, and, if so, should they return one of the checks? Which check should be returned?

A. Individuals residing in the U.S. territories should receive their economic stimulus payment from the territory. If a stimulus payment is received from both the United States Treasury and the territory, the Treasury payment must be returned to the Internal Revenue Service. The U.S. territories include American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

So I think I am safe to assume that I will be receiving 2 checks… Well, deposits. So now I have to go through the hassle of mailing out a check for my rebate :-/ I bet they won’t be covering my postage. Anyone want to take that bet?