We received several rebates which were paid out upon request. I think they included hot water heater, appliances, a couple from the utility and cooperatives. Chad, even hate to mention this since your geothermal sounds so much less than ours. Ours was $42,000, with almost $13,000 in tax credt ... which we can't claim until next year. We also got $1000 on the dual fuel heat pump from the energy cooperative. Our geothermal cost included 5 ton vertical loop system (five- 200 foot shafts), heat pump, back up furnace, programmable thermostats, radiant floor heating (I think 6 zones), humidifier, hot water heater, air filter, all ducting, labor etc, etc. Without looking at the bid, I can't remember all it included. I guess it's hard to compare if you're not comparing apples to apples. I'm estimating out total rebate/tax credits were between $17,000 and $20,000. Our builder and several of the subs were the ones who told us about the rebates we weren't aware of. They even gave us the forms.

The people who are really going to get shafted is anyone who made under the cap for the goodie bag in 2006 and don't qualify in 2008. They'll get the rebate and then owe it back. I'm hoping that they will base it on the 2007 AGI (because I went be to work Jan 2,2008). In other words, the government cuts the check based on the 2006 return but then will adjust on the 2007 return. Then if the taxpayer makes ovr ethe threshold in 2007, they will owe it back in 2008. AcK! If the plan is this confusing how can it be good or even reasonable?

Burnselk, I think the key to your confusion is that the amount of tax you pay after you do your taxes is some fixed number regardless of how much your withholdings are during the year. In other words, there are more than a few ways to come out "even" with the fed after doing your taxes such that you pay nothing and get no refund. 1) During the year, $10000 was witheld from your paychecks and after you do your taxes, it shows you owe $10000 in taxes. Net = 0. You owe nothing and they owe you no refund. 2) During the year, $1000 was witheld and after you do your taxes, it shows you owe $1000 in taxes. Net = 0. You owe nothing and they owe you no refund. In 1) above, the $1500 tax credit would get you a $1500 refund because $1500 is credited against the $10000 in taxes you have to pay resulting in a net of $8500. Since $10000 was witheld, the fed now owes you a $1500 refund. In 2) above, the $1500 tax credit would only get you a $1000 refund because $1500 is credited against the $1000 in taxes you have to pay resulting in a net of -$500. BUT since it is a non-refundable credit, the fed won't let you keep that extra $500 so the taxes you owe are $0 and not a credit of $500. Since $1000 was witheld, the fed now owes you a $1000 refund. Hope this makes sense... an example of a refundable credit is the Earned Income Credit. In that case, in scenario 2 above... you would get to keep the -$500 from the credit and your refund would be $1500. But this is NOT the case with the energy credit. Hope this clears things up a bit...

DD sent me the link last week. The kids were all checking on theirs. If you have your tax forms handy it will tell you the amount of your rebate! We haven't even filed yet and never direct deposit cause we usually pay in. So I guess we will be one of the last to get a check.