Many Poles who use the ITIN [Individual Taxpayer Identification Number] to file their taxes are hoping for the Bush rebate later this year; however, the rebate will go only to those taxpayers who file their taxes using a Social Security number.

According to the Bush economic stimulus program, individuals who file taxes will receive a rebate along with their tax refund. Individuals whose income last year was $75,000 or less will get $600; couples with income $150,000 or less will receive $1,200 ($600 for each spouse) and additional $300 for every child. However, only taxpayers who have Social Security Numbers will qualify for the rebate. The nine-digit ITIN, created in 1996 for workers not assigned a Social Security number, is now used chiefly by undocumented immigrants.

“Roughly speaking, more than half of my clients use an ITIN says Marcin Muszynski, accountant from the Konsul Agency in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Kevin McKeon, spokesman for the IRS told Nowy Dziennik that individuals who file their taxes using ITIN do not qualify for the rebate. The law behind the economic stimulus plan stipulates that taxpayers using a Social Security Number will receive the rebate.

Spouses filling their taxes jointly should be aware that if one of them possesses an SSN and the other uses ITIN, they will not receive the rebate. In order to qualify they should file their tax returns separately. Additionally, in order to collect the $300 for each child, both parents and each of the children need to have an SSN. If the child does not have an SSN but uses an ITIN, the rebate will not be granted. The first rebate checks will be mailed in May.