tax rebates coming sooner than expected.

It looks like those tax rebate checks will be coming sooner than expected.

The federal government, eager to boost the flagging economy, will start distributing special tax rebates on Monday – five days earlier than expected, the Treasury Department said Thursday.

The department had said last month that it would begin giving rebates on May 2. Instead, 800,000 tax filers daily will get rebates on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Checks are being distributed to people who file 2007 tax returns. Those who opt for direct deposit with the Internal Revenue Service will start getting rebates before those who use the mail.

The order in which tax filers will receive their rebates will be based on the last two digits of their Social Security numbers.

Here is the chart from the IRS website that shows when you can expect your check.  It hasn’t been updated with the revised dates, but it will give you an idea of where you are in the queue.