(House Ways and Means Committee) 提出，並遞交整個眾院討論。討論後通過的議案交到參院的一個委員會(Senate Finance Committee)，再由該委員會遞交給全體參議員討論修改。因為兩院代表的利益集團不太一樣，因此在這個過程中可能會加入一些新的條款。這些修改的版本然後交由兩院的一個聯合委員會(Joint Conference Committee)進行協商，最後出爐一個joint version，再交給兩院同時投票。如果兩院都通過，那麼議案會很快遞交給總統最後簽署。當然總統也可能最後否決，但這個法案是布什倡議的，所以估計很快可以順利通過。
那麼，到底誰能拿到退稅？拿到多少呢？這個法案最後的版本有一個主要條款
(In General)，和幾個特殊條款(Special Rules)。主要條款的內容是，如果納稅人2008年有net income tax liability(也就是說你應該交稅的話)，那麼你的退稅額度將由你實際應交稅額決定： 如應交稅額少於600美元，則可以拿回全部稅額；但如果應交稅額多於600美元，則只能拿到600美元的退稅。如果夫妻file joint return 的話則最高可以拿回1200元。但是，這裡還有一個phaseout的問題，也就是說，高收入階層得到的退稅會打折扣。具體來說，如果個人收入在7萬5以上，夫妻總收入15萬以上的話，退稅額將按照超過上限的收入部分的5%逐漸減少(例如，一對沒有孩子的夫妻收入是17萬，沒有phaseout 的話他們可以得到$1200的退稅；但是由於收入超過了15萬，退稅額將減少1000 (=20000 x 5%)，即最後他們只能得到200美元的退稅)。
The rebates only apply to your children under 17 years old, it does not apply to your parents even though you claim them as your dependents when filing tax.
How about our parents? They have green cards and they live with us. We claim them as our dependents when we file income tax. Will they get the benefit this time? Thanks!
There are many different rankings. The following link shows the ranking of accounting programs published by CCH, an independent accounting professional association. It might give you some quick information:
Not so sure if you are talking about the amount that you contributed to your 401K plan or the amount you received as a distribution from the plan. The contribution to a 401K plan, which nornally would be deducted from your pay check, is not considered a taxable income, thus, should not be included in "total income". However, if you received a distribution from your 401K plan (you should receive a Form 1099-R), the amount received is taxable, thus should be included in "total income"
Phaseout applies to your total income, so you basically substract phaseout amount (5% of the amount that exceeds the cap - 75000/person, or 150,000/couple), from your total tax rebate amount (including the $300/per kid). For example, if a couple makes $180,000, and has two kids, then without the phaseout, they would get a total of $ 1800 in rebate. But with the phaseout, they have to substract $1500 from it ($30,000 x 5%), so in the end they would only get a $300 rebate. If they make $186000 or more, then they don't get anything (1800 - 3600x5% = 0).
Wonder: I was only talking about Title I of the bill in this article. What you referred to was included in Title II, which is too complicated to explain here :). Basically it makes it much harder for people with lower income to get loans (espcially jumbo loans).
Any news on the confirming loan and Jumbo loan limit? Right now the confirming loan amount is or equal to $417,000, wondering if there are any updates? Thanks!
