Eligibility for that free money the government will give away

[Two and a Half Inches of Fun]

If I did not work last year and had no income can I still get some of that free money?

[psychonaut]

Where are you living and what's your citizenship? Lots of countries have welfare ("free money") for those who are looking for or unable to work, though normally you need to be legally resident and/or a citizen.

[Wee Bairn]

If you are talking about the tax "rebate", no.

[Gfactor]

If I did not work last year and had no income can I still get some of that free money?

If you when you say "no income" you mean literally no income, then no. You need a minimum of $3,000 qualifying income in 2007 in order to be eligible: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179094,00.html

[thirdname]

He's talking about the tax relief thing, the "economic stimulus" that was passed in the US. I was wondering the same thing; what if you didn't work? Also, what if you did work, but not enough to have to pay taxes?

[KneadToKnow]

Dang, y'all. (http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179181,00.html)

[KneadToKnow]

Sorry, Gfactor. Somehow I missed that you had linked to essentially the same info.

[Duckster]

If you when you say "no income" you mean literally no income, then no. You need a minimum of $3,000 qualifying income in 2007 in order to be eligible: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179094,00.html

Well, actually you have to have the minimum $3,000 qualifying income in 2007 and file an income tax return for the 2007 income tax year.

[Dead Cat]

In the UK, you can get up to £792 from the government by paying £2,808 into a pension, even if you have no earnings at all.

[fusoya]

In 2007, I made about $5000....however, it was all 1099 non-employee compensation (I worked as a temporary contracter and my paychecks didn't have any taxes withheld). I did my taxes on completetax.com and it said that I owed $300 federal and have a $250 NY refund (how did THAT happen?). I have the option of not filing at all, or I could pay $50 for the gamble that I'll get that rebate in May. Should I go for it?

[Gus Gusterson]

In 2007, I made about $5000....however, it was all 1099 non-employee compensation (I worked as a temporary contracter and my paychecks didn't have any taxes withheld). I did my taxes on completetax.com and it said that I owed $300 federal and have a $250 NY refund (how did THAT happen?). I have the option of not filing at all, or I could pay $50 for the gamble that I'll get that rebate in May. Should I go for it?You don't have the option of not filing. You must file a federal tax return if you have at least $400 in self-employment income. Those 1099s are self-employment income. You have to file because you have to pay self-employment tax (social security tax) on that income.

[fusoya]

Really? I was told otherwise in 2003 when I worked July-December and made about $11K that I was below the minimum income required to file. I didn't file, and nothing ever happened.

Anyway, my question is....if I do file, am I still eligible for this rebate if all of my 2007 income was from 1099?