Checks from Georgia’s $1 BILLION tax rebate are starting to hit bank accounts

ATLANTA — If you see extra money in your bank account from the state, don’t be alarmed. The Georgia Department of Revenue has begun issuing a special state income tax refund.

Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill in March that would give most Georgians up to $500 in refunds. The money comes from more than $1 billion in surplus that funds the state currently.

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On Monday, the Department of Revenue confirmed to WSB-TV, Action News Jax’s sister station in Atlanta, that the first round of checks have been processed.

“Our Department successfully issued the majority of HB 1302 refunds by July of 2022, and we plan to build on that success this year,” State Revenue Commissioner Frank O’Connell said. “We thank the Governor and the General Assembly for working with us through the process of passing and implementing these special refunds out of the state’s revenue surplus.”

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People who filed tax returns in both 2021 and 2022 are eligible to receive the money. Taxpayers must file their taxes before they can get the refund.

Eligible Georgians would receive up to $250 for single filers, $375 for heads of household or $500 for married couples filing jointly. The refund amount will be based on an individual’s tax liability for Tax Year 2021.

How will you receive your money? Surplus tax refunds will be issued through direct deposit or a paper check based on how you received your other tax returns. The refunds will go to taxpayers and not tax preparers.

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The Department of Revenue says it could take up to several weeks for the money to appear based on the amount of taxpayers who are eligible.

The state has set up a portal where Georgians can check for their surplus tax refund online.

The portal requires the tax year, your social security number or individual taxpayer identification number and your federal adjusted gross income on a Georgia Individual Income Tax Return.

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