Tax rebates should start showing up in bank accounts today

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Those long-promised tax rebates are now on their way to U.S. taxpayers.

People who chose to have their rebates directly deposited into their bank accounts will see the money there beginning today. The government's paper checks will start going out on May 9th, a week earlier than previously announced.

The extra cash is part of the economic stimulus package intended to help Americans cope with rising gasoline and food prices, as well as aid a slumping economy.

The Internal Revenue Service says all checks for those who filed tax returns on time are scheduled to be deposited or mailed by July 11.

President Bush announced last week that the rebates would go out a bit earlier than expected.