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Hawaii taxpayers are expected to receive tax refunds of $100 or $300 via direct deposit or mail by next week, Gov. David Ige said Tuesday.

People who file an income tax return this year are eligible to receive the tax rebate. Those who filed their returns by July 31 should receive direct deposits by Sept. 21 and mailed rebates by October, according to Ige. Taxpayers who file before Dec. 31 will .

About 600,000 taxpayers are scheduled to receive about $294 million in tax refunds, which are courtesy of a new law passed by the Legislature and signed by Ige that takes advantage of a budget surplus.

Under , tax filers earning less than $100,000 annually will receive $300 per person from the state government. This includes dependents, so a family of four would receive $1,200. Meanwhile, people earning more than $100,000 will get $100.

The rebates going out to taxpayers, especially those in lower-income households, come amid .

“The people of Hawaii work so hard,” Ige said at a news conference. “We do know there are many challenges in these tough economic times. The current inflation, gas (and) electricity costs have been increasing, so we know this refund will be welcomed.”

So far, more than 300,000 direct deposit refunds and 295,000 paper checks are scheduled to be distributed.

Paper checks will be made in batches of 2,000 until additional check stock arrives, Ige said, adding that amount will increase to 90,000 per week upon arrival.

“We do appreciate all of those taxpayers who have already filed their income taxes … You don’t have to do anything more,” Ige said. “We will find you and get you that refund in the appropriate method, either by direct deposit or by old-fashioned check and regular mail.”