Awaiting the Stimulus? Check Your Numbers.

April 15 is nearly here and you know what that means: You've got to get moving if you haven't already filed your tax return.

This year, it's especially important to file if you are eligible for an economic stimulus payment. If you don't file, you don't get paid.

To help the many folks who typically don't file, the Internal Revenue Service teamed up with tax operations run by such organizations as AARP and the United Way for what the agency called "Super Saturday" last weekend.

"For millions of Americans, filing a tax return is not routine," said IRS spokesman Jim Dupree. "Their income is either too low or not taxable. Super Saturday is one way the IRS and its partners are working to ensure everyone eligible receives a stimulus payment."

The IRS should do more Super Saturdays and not just when there is some special payment in the tax season.

For people who have no legal requirement to file a tax return but must file in order to receive a 2008 economic stimulus payment, the IRS has made arrangements for a special Free File Alliance. Go to the IRS Web site ( http://www.irs.gov) and search for "Free File -- Economic Stimulus Payment."

You can review the listed companies, approved by the IRS, that are offering to file returns for free for qualified people whose adjusted gross income is $54,000 or less.

The IRS said it will begin sending more than 130 million economic stimulus payments starting May 2. The initial round of payments will be completed by early July.

People will be getting payments of up to $600 ($1,200 for married couples) plus additional payments of $300 for each qualifying child. The stimulus payments phase out for individuals with adjusted gross incomes of $75,000 or more, and at $150,000 or more for married couples filing jointly.

How soon you get your money will be determined by the last two digits of your Social Security number and whether you opt for a paper check or a direct deposit into your bank account.

Be aware that if you owe back taxes or have certain other debts such as child support, all or some part of the stimulus payment may be snatched to satisfy those debts. If that happens, the IRS says the taxpayer will get a letter explaining the offset.

Here's how the IRS will distribute the stimulus payments if you elect direct deposit: