Rebate Letters From IRS to Cost $42 Million

[run2Jesus]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080307/ap_on_go_ot/dear_taxpayer

[run2Jesus]

WASHINGTON - At a cost of nearly $42 million, the IRS wants you to know: Your check is almost in the mail.

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The Internal Revenue Service is spending the money on letters to alert taxpayers to expect rebate checks as part of the economic stimulus plan.

The notices are going out this month to an estimated 130 million households who filed returns for the 2006 tax year, at a cost $41.8 million, IRS spokesman John Lipold confirmed.

That works out to about 32 cents to print, process and mail each letter. It doesn't include the tab for another round of mailings planned for those who didn't file tax returns last year but may still qualify for a rebate.

Democrats accused the Bush administration of wasting time and postage.

"There are countless better uses for $42 million than a self-congratulatory mailer that gives the president a pat on the back for an idea that wasn't even his," Sen. Charles Schumer said Friday, arguing the IRS could more effectively spend the money to catch tax cheats.

Keith Hennessey, director of the president's National Economic Council
more at above link..

[wife]

Well, if postage wasn't so high it wouldn't cost so much to mail the letters!!!LOL

What an enormous waste of money!!!

[TheLordismytreasure]

Oh well, at least that money will hopefully going into our own economy, ie US Postal Service and US jobs and not overseas...:idunno

[run2Jesus]

Oh well, at least that money will hopefully going into our own economy, ie US Postal Service and US jobs and not overseas...:idunno


What a brilliant and positive analysis! That's a healthy American spirit!:thumb

[tygerkittn]

I believe the IRS doesn't pay postage. The .32 cents was for printing processing and mailing them out, but I don't think they pay any actual postage or it would be more than double the price.

[run2Jesus]

That works out to about 32 cents to print, process and mail each letter. It doesn't include the tab for another round of mailings planned for those who didn't file tax returns last year but may still qualify for a rebate Oh my, tygerkittn, it looks like you have something there. Poor USPS. It's all going into the printing and processing costs. Wow, it shouldn't cost 32 cents a letter just in paper and ink should it? Oh, that's right. The US Government probably contracted with some company and is paying ten times the normal rate. That's the good old US Government for you!!!

[wife]

I believe the IRS doesn't pay postage. The .32 cents was for printing processing and mailing them out, but I don't think they pay any actual postage or it would be more than double the price.

Well no WONDER the PO is in financial problems... the government is bogging down the system

[tygerkittn]

Oh my, tygerkittn, it looks like you have something there. Poor USPS. It's all going into the printing and processing costs. Wow, it shouldn't cost 32 cents a letter just in paper and ink should it? Oh, that's right. The US Government probably contracted with some company and is paying ten times the normal rate. That's the good old US Government for you!!!

That's actually cheap, I read somewhere in an article on online banking that it costs big companies over $2 to compose, print and mail a bill. Of course they pay postage, and each bill is for a different amount, but that's why they pester you to sign up for online billing.
Medicare spends far less on letters sent out than private health care companies. There is actually one thing the government is good at! Don't tell anyone, if it gets around they'll start buying $50 envelopes and $25 sheets of paper to keep their reputation intact. :heh

[run2Jesus]

My husband won't online anything. He has computerphobia.