Today is a big day for workers in Louisiana. It doesn't matter whether you're a computer programmer in Baton Rouge, a bolt cutter in Bunkie, a crossing guard in Creola, or a player for the New Orleans Saints, today is the day you should have your W-2 Tax Document from your employer.

Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash.com
Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash.com
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According to IRS guidelines, your employer must make your W-2 available to you by January 31st. Your W-2 is the official document of record for your taxable earnings. If you work more than one job, you should have a W-2 for each place of employment.

Once you have your W-2 in hand you can begin the process of filing your taxes. Now, some taxpayers in Louisiana, about a million nationwide, will be getting an extra check from the Internal Revenue Service as part of this tax cycle. The good news about this "extra check" is that you probably won't have to do a darn thing to get it, if it is owed to you.

Economic Stimulus Package Tax Rebate Checks Printed
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The extra check in question is part of the recovery rebate program that authorized stimulus checks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many taxpayers who qualified for those stimulus checks did not take advantage of that fact. The IRS has reviewed tax records for filings made in 2021 and determined that a significant amount of taxpayers were in fact owed the extra money.

In most cases, the dollar amount of the "extra check" will be close to $1,400. Now that is $1,400 per tax filer plus an additional $1,400 for each dependent. The caveat to this recovery rebate credit is that you are still subject to the income requirements from your 2021 tax filings.

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In other words, you won't get the bonus check if you earned more than $160,000 for married couples filing jointly, $120,000 for heads of households, and below $80,000 for single filers. If you're not sure where you fit in the eligibility realm of the program, don't worry. You won't have to do anything if you're owed the money.

The IRS will use information from you in 2021 and if you used direct deposit back then, then your money will be directly deposited this time. You haven't changed banks, have you?  That might put a fly in the ointment.

Accountant working with US tax forms
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And if you're a paper filer the IRS will mail the additional check to the address that you have on file. If you have moved since 2021, don't worry, the IRS has an uncanny knack for finding people.

If you have questions you can visit the IRS website or call the IRS helpline 1-800-829-1040.

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