Governor Scott Walker is making two stops today, in Sussex and Green Bay to promote the website allowing residents to apply for the $100 per child tax rebate in Wisconsin.
“The state has a larger than expected budget surplus, and we’re returning it to Wisconsin’s hardworking families,” said Walker in a statement on Tuesday. “As parents, Tonette and I know that every little bit helps, and this $100-per-child tax rebate can go toward school supplies, activity fees, or a co-pay at the doctor or dentist. We urge everyone with children under the age of 18 as of December 31, 2017, to claim their credit on childtaxrebate.wi.gov from today through July 2.”
Under the one-time child tax rebate, Wisconsin families will receive $100 for each child living at home under the age of 18 as of December 31, 2017. The application period starts today and runs through July 2 for eligible parents. The parents will receive the money either via direct deposit or by check before September 1, 2018.
In filling out the form ourselves, we noticed that the date fields are a bit glitchy so you’re better off entering birth dates manually rather than using the calendar function. Also, it’s helpful to have your family members’ Social Security numbers handy and your banking information if you want the money direct deposited. The screen where you enter the data for each child could be clearer that column #2 is for child #2 and so on. Do not go to the next screen if you have more than one child. Just click in the next column. Finally, the wording is a bit weird when the Department of Revenue asks, “Were you married on December 31, 2017?” They really mean, “Were you married on or before December 31, 2017?”
The whole process, if you have the necessary information in front of you, takes only a couple of minutes.
You will want to print your claim so you have a record of the claim number in case you need to track it, a feature that is also available on the website. The website does ask that you wait 72 hours before they can confirm they have received your rebate request.
Remember, to claim the tax credit the child must be a dependent and nobody else must have claimed the child last year on their tax returns. A dependent is determined using guidance described in IRS Publication 501, regardless of whether the claimant filed a 2017 federal income tax return.
