Bill Overview
Title: Putting Gas Money Back In Your Pocket Act
Description: This bill allows individual taxpayers a 2022 gas prices rebate for the first taxable year beginning in 2022. The bill defines 2022 gas prices rebate amount as the sum of $500 ($1,000 for joint returns), plus $500 times the number of taxpayer dependents who had attained the age of 16 as of the end of the taxable year. The bill allows advance payments of the rebate and requires taxpayers to provide a Social Security account number on their tax returns.
Sponsors: Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-10]
Target Audience
Population: Global individual taxpayers eligible for a fuel rebate
Estimated Size: 157000000
- The bill impacts individual taxpayers in the U.S. for the year 2022, focusing on those who file tax returns.
- The rebate includes $500 for individual filers and $1,000 for joint filers, indicating it targets all adults eligible to file tax returns in the U.S.
- Additional considerations are made for taxpayers with dependents over the age of 16, meaning parents and guardians with older dependents are also included in the target population.
- To qualify, individuals need to provide a Social Security number, which limits the impact to legal residents and citizens.
Reasoning
- The policy provides a rebate to individual taxpayers, which primarily benefits those who file taxes.
- Many Americans who file taxes can benefit, but those with dependents over age 16 see larger rebates, aiding families with older children.
- The budget constraints mean the program won't necessarily address higher gas prices for everyone, limiting the scope.
- Well-being impacts may be modest, as the rebate is financial rather than systemic or comprehensive.
- The policy targets a broad but not universal group of taxpayers, meaning some will not experience any change.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (New York, NY)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- $500 will help with my gas budget, but not substantially impact my long-term financial security.
- The rebate provides some relief but is not a long-term solution for high gas prices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Software Engineer (Dallas, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Rebate will definitely help with the family budget, especially with the kids' activities costs.
- Feels like a fair approach to easing economic pressures, at least temporarily.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Self-employed (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The rebate will help us cope with unpredictable expenses, but it's a short-term patch.
- Being self-employed, any financial relief reduces stress significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retail Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any extra cash is a blessing, given my tight budget.
- The rebate helps but doesn't solve the bigger issue of low wages.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Retirement budget is tight, so any extra help eases financial strain.
- The rebate feels like a kind gesture towards retirees.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Freelance Graphic Designer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The rebate provides temporary relief, not a sustainable fix.
- Helps manage the costs of running a growing household.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Nurse (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The extra money helps a lot with our monthly expenses.
- Any form of government relief is appreciated given current economic conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Construction Worker (Boston, MA)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Helps to cover rising costs in materials and living expenses.
- Grateful for any assistance, but this is not the silver bullet for economic recovery.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired Farmer (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Rebate eases the burden of medical and household expenses slightly.
- Living alone, every bit of financial help counts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
College Student (Detroit, MI)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a student, any cash injection improves my financial outlook significantly.
- Wish it was part of a continuous support mechanism for students and low-income groups.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $72500000000 (Low: $65000000000, High: $80000000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The direct cost of rebates for the majority of the U.S. taxpayer base.
- Administrative costs for processing advanced rebates and verifying eligibility.
- Potential changes in consumer behavior due to increased disposable income.
- The impact is only for the tax year 2022; hence effects are short-term.