We have both terrible and good news: the IRS no longer has any tax refunds or stimulus payments to give as of today; nevertheless, there is a program that will provide tax surpluses to more than 4 million qualified Americans.
The Georgia Department of Revenue has started awarding surplus tax refunds for the 2024 fiscal year. Checks are issued every day. Taxpayers can verify the status of their return using the Surplus return Checker tool, which is updated daily. This project arose from the implementation of HB 112. But first, let us do a thorough review of this program.
Eligibility conditions for the HB 112 tax rebate
This statute allows Georgia taxpayers who meet certain qualifications to get a tax refund from the state surplus. Eligibility is based on timely filing and having a tax liability in 2023. Online, you may find information about eligibility and status verification.
You may be eligible for the HB 112 excess tax refund if you meet the following criteria:
You submitted your Individual Income Tax Return for tax years 2023 and 2024 by the May 1, 2025 deadline.
If you have got an extension, the deadline is October 15, 2025. Additionally, you must have incurred a tax liability for the fiscal year 2023.
Georgia residents, whether full-time, part-time, or non-residents, are all eligible.
Any Georgian who was a full-time resident in 2023 and 2024 and filed timely returns is eligible. Nonresidents and part-time residents get a prorated refund.
What is the maximum tax refund and when will it arrive?
The amount of the excess refund varies according on your 2023 filing status. Single taxpayers and married taxpayers filing separately each receive a maximum of $250. Heads of household can receive up to $375. Married couples filing jointly can get a maximum of $500. The refund will be issued in accordance with the instructions included with your tax form.
As an illustration, A single taxpayer filed a 2023 tax return and owes $300. They submitted their 2024 return on time. They would receive $250, which is the maximum authorized for singles, despite paying $300. Checks are issued every day. More than 75% of prior excess reimbursements were issued by direct transfer.
The receipt schedule is determined by when the documents are filed and processed. Those who requested an extension in 2024 have until October 15, 2025 to file. The refund status is checked online utilizing a tool that is updated every day.
Some reasons why your refund may not arrive:
There are various reasons why a taxpayer may not receive their HB 112 return. The failure to file Georgia tax returns for 2023 and 2024 before the appropriate 2025 deadline is a leading reason. Failure to obtain an extension by October 15, 2025 voids eligibility.
Filing your 2023 or 2024 return with an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) rather of an SSN will preclude you from receiving a refund. A $0 tax liability in 2023 is another basis for disqualification. Prorated refunds for less than $1.00 are not provided.
If you are reported as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return in 2023 and do not have your own income that year, you will not be eligible for the refund. Retirees over the age of 62 may be excluded if their tax exclusion cancels out their 2023 tax liability.
If this happens to you, you won’t get a tax refund
Check your 2023 tax return to see if you are eligible for a refund. If you filled out Form 500, the basis is the tax liability on line 16. If you utilized Form 500EZ, check at line 4. This liability is the amount payable before any credits or withholdings.
You will not get more than the maximums determined by your marital status ($250, $375, or $500). If your 2023 tax burden is less than these maximums, you will only get that amount. For example, a single person with a $200 tax liability in 2023 will receive $200 rather than $250.
Failure to obtain the whole amount may be owing to state arrears (back taxes, unpaid child support). The agency that applied the offset should have notified you. This also happens if the 2023 tax liability is lower than the predicted maximum.
Finally, we recommend consulting with a competent accountant or tax counselor to evaluate whether this payment is taxable in your case, as it is dependent on your specific circumstances. As a result, having an expert available for consultation is crucial.
