Taxpayers earning less than $100,000 will get a one-off bonus of up to $900 under the federal government’s $42 billion economic stimulus package.

“To receive the tax bonus, taxpayers must have paid tax in 2007-08, after taking into account available tax offsets,” Mr Swan said in a press release.

“Taxpayers have until June 30 this year to lodge their tax returns and still be eligible for the tax bonus. However, I encourage Australians to lodge their tax returns as soon as possible so they can receive their Tax Bonus as soon as possible.”

The payments will be wired to bank accounts or sent to home addresses.

Taxpayers get:

o $900 if their taxable income is up to $80,000

o $600 if their taxable income is between $80,001 and $90,000 and

o $250 if their taxable income is between $90,001 and $100,000.

For those who have already lodged their tax return there is nothing to do but look forward to the money coming in, Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo said, as long as they meet eligibility criteria.

“Eligible people who have received their 2007-08 notice of assessment before March 27 2009 can expect to receive their payment between next week and May 16.

“Those who received their notice of assessment after March 27 can expect their tax bonus payment around four weeks after they received their notice of assessment. Please be patient if you don’t receive the payment immediately.”

The Government’s plan, which Mr Swan said will at least bring forward the time when much of the population will increase its spending, overcame a hurdle last week when the High Court rejected a challenge to the bonus payments.

Law academic Bryan Pape argued that bonuses amounted to gifts and fell outside the Government’s constitutional powers. But Chief Justice Robert French said a majority held that the Tax Bonus Act was valid, and the appropriation of the consolidated revenue fund to make the payments was constitutional.