Stimulus confusion could affect rebates

Confusion over how to account for last year’s stimulus payment on 2008 tax returns could affect just how much you get from a new Recovery Rebate Credit.

The Recovery Rebate Credit is a one-time benefit for people who didn’t receive the full economic stimulus payment last year and whose circumstances may have changed, making them eligible now for some or all of the unpaid portion.

The Internal Revenue Service says early samplings of 2008 tax returns show a 16 percent error rate involving how to account for the stimulus payments that were issued to nearly 119 million Americans last year.