We have bad news and good news: the bad news is that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) no longer has any tax refunds or stimulus checks to distribute as of today; but the good news is that there is a program that will distribute tax surpluses to more than 4 million eligible Americans.
The Georgia Department of Revenue has begun issuing surplus tax refunds for the 2024 tax year. Checks are issued daily. Taxpayers can check the status of their refund using the Surplus Refund Checker tool, updated daily. This initiative stems from the implementation of HB 112. But, first, let’s take a complete review on this program.
Eligibility requirements for HB 112 tax refund
This law authorizes a tax refund from the state surplus for Georgia taxpayers who meet specific requirements. Eligibility depends on timely filing and having a tax liability in 2023. Information on eligibility and status verification is available online.
You may be eligible for the HB 112 surplus tax refund if you met the following criteria:
- Filed your Individual Income Tax Return for tax years 2023 and 2024 by the May 1, 2025, deadline.
- If you received an extension, the deadline is October 15, 2025. Additionally, you must have had a tax liability for the 2023 tax year.
- Full-time residents, part-time residents, or non-residents of Georgia are eligible.
Any Georgian who was a full-time resident in 2023 and 2024 and filed timely returns for both years is eligible. Nonresidents or part-time residents receive a prorated refund.
What will the maximum tax refund be and when will it arrive?
The amount of the excess refund depends on your 2023 filing status. Single taxpayers and married taxpayers filing separately receive a maximum of $250. Heads of household receive up to $375. Married couples filing jointly receive a maximum of $500. The refund will be issued according to the instructions provided with your tax form.
Illustrative example: A single taxpayer filed a 2023 return and owed $300. They filed their 2024 return on time. They would receive $250, as that’s the maximum allowed for singles, even though they paid $300. Checks are issued daily. For previous excess refunds, more than 75% were issued via direct deposit.
The receipt schedule depends on the timing of filing and processing. Those who requested an extension for 2024 have until October 15, 2025, to file. Refund status is checked online using the tool updated daily.
Some reasons why your refund might not arrive
There are several reasons why a taxpayer might not receive their HB 112 refund. Failure to file Georgia tax returns for 2023 and 2024 by the applicable 2025 deadline is a leading cause. Failure to timely request an extension by October 15, 2025, also voids eligibility.
Filing your 2023 or 2024 return using an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) instead of an SSN would disqualify you from receiving a refund. Having a tax liability of $0 for 2023 is another reason for disqualification. Prorated refunds of less than $1.00 are not issued.
Being claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return in 2023 without having your own income that year also prevents you from receiving the refund. Retirees over 62 may be excluded if their tax exclusion eliminated their 2023 tax liability.
If this happened to you, you will not receive a tax refund
To determine your potential refund, look at your 2023 tax return. If you used Form 500, the basis is the tax liability on line 16. If you used Form 500EZ, look at line 4. This liability is the amount owed before any credits or withholdings.
You won’t receive more than the maximums established by marital status ($250, $375, or $500). If your 2023 tax liability was less than these maximums, you’ll only receive the amount of that liability. Example: A single person with a $200 tax liability in 2023 receives $200, not $250.
Failure to receive the full amount may be due to offsetting state debts (back taxes, unpaid child support). Notification should be received from the agency that applied the offset. This also occurs if the 2023 tax liability was less than the expected maximum.
Finally, we recommend speaking with your trusted accountant or tax advisor to help you determine whether this payment is taxable in your case, as it depends on each individual situation. Therefore, it’s essential to have an expert on hand to consult.
