Douglas taxpayers can expect to receive their economic stimulus rebate payments beginning May 2.

The recipients of these payments will receive their rebates based on the order of the last two digits of their Social Security number that was used on their tax return.

Also, if the taxpayer requested his income tax payment to be sent to his direct deposit account, his stimulus rebate will be one of the first to be sent out.

Those who didn’t request direct deposit will receive the economic stimulus payment later and in the form of a paper check

The initial round of weekly payments will be completed by early July, said William E. Brunson, the Media Relations spokesman in Phoenix for the IRS.

The IRS is also providing a new online calculator to help people determine the amount of their stimulus payments, Brunson said.

“To receive an economic stimulus payment, people just need to file their tax returns as they usually do,” said IRS Acting Commissioner Linda E. Stiff. “The payments will be automatic for the vast majority of taxpayers. Some lower-income workers and recipients of certain Social Security and veterans benefits who don’t normally need to file a tax return will need to do so in order to receive a stimulus payment.”

Stiff said that the website IRS.gov has all the information people need to help them obtain a stimulus payment.

Because the IRS will use the Social Security number to determine when checks are mailed, taxpayers may receive their checks at different times than their neighbors or other family members.

On a jointly filed return, the first Social Security number listed will determine the mail-out time.

The IRS expects to make about 34 million payments within the first three weeks after the payment schedule begins May 2. With more than 130 million households expected to receive stimulus payments, more than 25 percent of the payments will be made in the first three weeks.

Taxpayers who choose direct deposit on their federal income tax returns can expect to receive their economic stimulus payments between May 2 and May 16 provided their returns were received and processed by April 15, 2008, Brunson said.  

For taxpayers who did not choose direct deposit on their tax return but whose returns were processed by April 15, the paper checks will be in the mail starting May 16, with the initial mailings completed by around July 11.

The IRS is also announcing today the availability of an on-line calculator on IRS.gov to help taxpayers determine if they are eligible to receive an economic stimulus payment and if they are, how much they can expect.

Anyone who has prepared a 2007 income tax return can use the calculator. It will ask taxpayers a series of questions, so they should have their 2007 tax returns handy. After answering the questions, the calculator will provide the projected dollar value of the payment.