Expired Tax Credit Refund!!

[kritter]

Has anyone taken advantage of this?

If so how much money do you estimate you'll be getting back trying to decide it is worth it or not....TIA!!

This is what JetBlue has posted on their website::

Operations Update
Last Updated: 7/29/2011 6:37:00 AM EST


Dear JetBlue Customers,

As you know, the laws authorizing the airline ticket tax and other aviation-related taxes expired at midnight, Friday, July 22, 2011. These federal passengers air transportation excise taxes are collected by JetBlue at the time of purchase and then paid to the IRS. Customers who purchased tickets on JetBlue on or before July 22, 2011, for travel beginning on or after July 23, 2011 may be entitled to a refund of these federal taxes paid.

Because these taxes are collected by JetBlue on behalf of the federal government and remitted to the IRS, Customers may obtain a refund for federal taxes paid on qualifying flights by submitting a claim directly to the IRS. We regret that we are unable to honor any refund requests at this time.

If you would like to request a copy of your receipt to include in your refund claim to the IRS, please email us at: dearjetblue@jetblue.com with your full name and confirmation number. Please also include "Expired Tax Refund Request" in the subject line of your email. We will review your request and provide an e-receipt with which you may submit to the IRS for the tax refund. Please allow 3 to 5 business days for processing.

For more information, visit the IRS FAQ's page at http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=242812,00.html

Please continue to check back on jetblue.com for further updates.

Please note: Expired taxes will not be applied to newly booked travel on or after July 23, 2011.

Thank You.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If so how much money do you estimate you'll be getting back trying to decide it is worth it or not.

The taxes should be clearly broken down on your ticket receipt.

Personally, for the small amount of money involved, it would not be worth my time for a domestic flight.

 

[ProudMomTo3Boys]

For the 4 tickets for my upcoming trip, it would be about $100. I bought them back in March and we are flying on Aug. 23. I don't know if it will be reinstated by then, but my luck it would. Not spending that money just yet.

 

[mainelyj]

It has been said on another post - but the FAA/IRS are encouraging the airlines to directly refund passengers. My feeling is the airlines COLLECTED the money and they should refund it. My trip is a week away, so I hope to get this money back somehow if no there is no change in the airline tax.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

The taxes should be clearly broken down on your ticket receipt.

Personally, for the small amount of money involved, it would not be worth my time for a domestic flight.

We have 4 flights between now and Easter for my family of 4. I added up all the taxes (excluding the 9/11 security fee & PFC which still apply) and it adds up to $383.97. Totally worth my time and effort, imho.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

It has been said on another post - but the FAA/IRS are encouraging the airlines to directly refund passengers. My feeling is the airlines COLLECTED the money and they should refund it. My trip is a week away, so I hope to get this money back somehow if no there is no change in the airline tax.

They collected the money on behalf of your goverement to whom, in many cases, they have already REMITTED it. If the goverment wants the airline to give it back they need to have a way to give it back to the airlines which seems to be a missing 'block'

Now if they have not remitted it then you may have a claim with the airline. Of course good luck getting the airline to figure out "who" has your money at this point in time, but since most flyers on here books MONTHS in advance figure it's the goverment that has your cash. The goverment tends to work on "cash accounting"


(And why are you adding in fees that still apply? You aren't getting those back)

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

They collected the money on behalf of your goverement to whom, in many cases, they have already REMITTED it. If the goverment wants the airline to give it back they need to have a way to give it back to the airlines which seems to be a missing 'block'

Now if they have not remitted it then you may have a claim with the airline. Of course good luck getting the airline to figure out "who" has your money at this point in time, but since most flyers on here books MONTHS in advance figure it's the goverment that has your cash. The goverment tends to work on "cash accounting"


(And why are you adding in fees that still apply? You aren't getting those back)

I know. I said when I add up all the taxes excluding the ones we can't get back, it still adds up to a good chunk of $.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

You might want to check out this thread

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2767892

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Official IRS statement on the issue:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=242812,00.html

We have 4 flights between now and Easter for my family of 4. I added up all the taxes (excluding the 9/11 security fee & PFC which still apply) and it adds up to $383.97. Totally worth my time and effort, imho.

My statement was based on getting a refund for ONE flight, not what appears to be 16 flights. And if you read the IRS statement, it states that if the tax is reinstated (and I'm sure it will be), that you may be liable for the tax for tickets purchased during the no tax time.

Q. If I purchase my ticket at a time when the tax is not in effect but I travel after the tax is reinstated, will I be subject to tax?

A. That depends on how such travel is treated in any legislation reinstating the tax. The legislation could either impose tax on all travel occurring after its enactment or provide an exemption for passengers who purchased tickets during the period when the tax was not in effect.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I can tell you that for international travel I have often had to pay "new" taxes added between the date I purchased and the date I flew..... So.... I wouldn't apply for refunds in advance

 

[kaytieeldr]

From the IRS FAQ:

Q.*Which federal air transportation excise taxes expired at the end of July 22, 2011?

A.*Until they are reinstated by Congress, the following federal air transportation excise taxes do not apply to transportation beginning on or after July 23, 2011:

The 7.5 percent tax on the base ticket price;
The domestic segment tax of $3.70 per person per segment (a single takeoff and single landing);
The international travel facilities tax of $16.30 per person for flights that begin or end in the U.S., or $8.20 per person for a flight that begins or ends in Alaska or Hawaii; and
The 6.25 percent tax on the amount paid for transporting property by air.


So, $3.70 per leg; plus $7.50 per hundred dollars paid on the base price of the ticket. The $8.20/$16.30 doesn't apply unless the passenger is flying out of the country (although I do think it's interesting the FAQ implies Alaska and Hawaii aren't in the United States ); and if the excise tax for transporting property by air applies to passengers' luggage, it wouldn't apply to JetBlue passengers with one checked bag each - I see at least one of the concerned posters on this thread is using that airline.

I've done some calculating , and it's entirely likely the poster with four trips is paying an average fare that would, indeed, entitle them to a credit or refund in the vicinity they estimate... if only the IRS weren't so darned sure the taxes will be reinstated.

 

[jsilvers]

The $8.20/$16.30 doesn't apply unless the passenger is flying out of the country (although I do think it's interesting the FAQ implies Alaska and Hawaii aren't in the United States

The FAQ tracks the way the law is written. The extra tax for Alaska/Hawaii flights is included in the law that imposes international arrival/departure taxes. So blame Congress, not the IRS, for any inappropriate implications...

if the excise tax for transporting property by air applies to passengers' luggage

It doesn't. The tax applies to air cargo, not passenger baggage.