Many Americans got stimulus checks from the government during the pandemic, but that didn’t mean that refunds would no longer be given to residents.
Since then, many states have allowed rebates for residents who meet certain requirements. Some of these states used leftover stimulus money to pay for the extra money to help people financially.
Many of the refunds have been taken away in the years since the pandemic, but in 2024, many states still offer direct payments.
Alex Beene, a financial literacy teacher at the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek, “Rebates are becoming more and more popular with state governments, and for good reason.”
“They’re a great way of making taxpayers see their dollars are being put to good use and be used as a way of assisting with problems plaguing the state that additional funding could benefit.”
Missouri Tax Rebates on Gas
People who drove in Missouri from July 2023 to June 2024 and paid extra gas taxes can get their money back.
For this to count, you had to use gas on the highway and drive a car that weighs less than 26,000 pounds. People and companies will both need to fill out Form 4923-H in order to get the money.
You will also need your VIN, the number of gallons of gasoline and diesel you used, and the total amount of the Missouri motor fuel tax increase you paid during the time period in question.
You have to list all of your deals on the form, including the seller’s name and address and the exact amount of gas bought. The last day to send in your information for the gas refund is September 30. You can apply for the money online or by mail.
At the same time, Pennsylvania is rewarding both landlords and renters through a program that rebates property taxes and rent.
The rebate is worth anywhere from $380 to $1,000, based on how much money you make and where you live.
People who live in the area must have a family income of $45,000 or less and be 65 years or older, a widow 50 years or older, or an adult disabled by disability. You will need to show that you are at least 18 years old, that you make money, and that you paid your taxes or rent last year.
Before, Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania said that the refund was a “lifeline for our seniors and people with disabilities, especially those on a fixed income.”
This year, homeowners and renters who qualified will have until December 31 to apply for the rebate, which is one more day than last year.
This month, a lot of seniors and disabled people got the rebate. As of July 3, the state said that over 442,000 rebates had been given out.
Washington EV Instant Rebate Program
In the meantime, the EV Instant Rebates Program in Washington will help people who own electric cars.
If you bought an electric car and make less than a certain amount of money, you can get up to $9,000.
The car you buy must cost less than $90,000 and your family income must be at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level.
“Our goal is to make these vehicles available to as many people as possible,” Governor Jay Inslee told The Washington State Standard in the past. “You can wake up every morning and say, ‘I’m not gonna have to buy a gallon of gasoline,’ that makes people really, really happy.”
People can get the rebate money until June 2025, or until the scheme runs out of money.
As a way to lessen the effects of inflation, most of the refunds “encourage better choices,” according to Beene. That doesn’t mean, though, that Americans should expect more direct payments any time soon.
“As to whether we’ll see more of them in the future, it’s really all going to come down to each state’s economic performance and how much revenue continues to come in,” said Beene. “It’s an encouraging sign, though, that legislators see rebates as an effective means of using taxpayers’ money.”
The stimulus money that paid for many of the refund programs is set to run out at the end of the year. As a result, states are looking for quick ways to get the money to the people who pay taxes.
Money expert and founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group Kevin Thompson told Newsweek, “Much of the pandemic stimulus would need to be used up or at least accounted for” before the end of the year for it not to be returned.
“States are trying any number of ways to get this money out to its citizens in the form of EV/Property tax rebates, no-strings-attached income distributions, or clean energy plans for low-income individuals.”
Not everyone has been in favor of the payments, though. Some are afraid about how much people will depend on the rebates and what will happen when next year’s budget runs out of money.
“These plans have been met with staunch disapproval from legislative members because some feel that individuals may become accustomed to these incentives, while others see it as much-needed relief in our current environment,” said Thompson.
“It doesn’t matter how you feel about the programs; only time will tell how they really change these cities over time.” However, they have been helpful for some, helping them get better jobs, make more money, and in some cases go back to school.