Here’s how to claim your state child tax rebate

Sign up before July 2 online or by telephone

MADISON - Parents on Tuesday began signing up for a $100-per-child tax rebate — a tax break GOP Gov. Scott Walker is touting and his Democratic opponents are calling an election-year gimmick.

This is what you need to know to about the rebate and how to claim yours:

1. Signing up

The state Department of Revenue began accepting applications Tuesday at https://childtaxrebate.wi.gov.

Parents without internet access can call (608) 266-5437 to sign up.

2. Know the deadline

Parents have until July 2 to sign up for the tax rebates.

3. Child’s age to qualify

The dependent child needs to have been born before Dec. 31, 2017, and be a Wisconsin resident and U.S. citizen. The rebate can be claimed for children younger than 18 as of Dec. 31, 2017. About 671,000 families with 1.22 million children are expected to meet that definition and sign up.

4. What you need

Parents will need their Social Security number, the Social Security number and date of birth for their child and, if they want direct deposit of the rebate, the routing number and account number from their bank.

5. When will I get my money?

Those who file can expect a check or electronic bank deposit this summer, just months before the Nov. 6 election.

6. Is that rebate taxable?

Most of those who receive rebate checks will not have to report the payments as income when they file their taxes in 2018, according to the state Department of Revenue.

7. What this will cost

The tax breaks are expected to provide Wisconsinites with about $137 million in tax relief, and cost the state treasury the same amount. The child tax rebate makes up $122 million of that, with a sales tax holiday estimated to have a value of $14.8 million.

Walker proposed the one-time tax break in January and Republicans who control the Legislature quickly approved it. The measure, which Walker signed into law on the day income taxes were due in April, also includes the sales tax holiday that will run from Aug. 1 to 5.

Walker promoted the tax breaks Tuesday.

Democrats panned the rebate as a political ploy to drum up support at a time when Walker is warning Republicans could be up against a national “blue wave” this fall.

The August sales tax holiday will waive the state’s 5% sales tax, as well as local sales taxes, for five days on a variety of school supplies and pieces of clothing priced at less than $75 each. The sales tax holiday will also apply to computer supplies priced at $250 or less each and computers of $750 or less each.

The sales tax holiday was originally set to last for two days, but Walker used his partial veto powers to extend it to five days.