A rebate is a refund offered to a customer by a manufacturer, distributor or retailer when a customer makes a purchase. Sometimes referred to as a retroactive discount, rebates are often used as an incentive or marketing tactic to attract customers.

Typically consisting of sending forms through the mail, the mail-in rebate is a tactic used by manufacturers to attract more price-sensitive shoppers to their product line while minimizing the amount of the discount that they would need to offer on their products.

Tax rebate refers to the relief you can claim to reduce income tax burden. It refers to the amount of tax liability that you, as a taxpayer, do not have to pay. Tax refund, on the other hand, refers to the amount you receive from the government because your paid taxes exceed your computed tax liability.

Consumers should also be aware that a mail in rebate does not necessarily result in a cash or check payment. Some companies mail back gift cards or coupons for other products in lieu of a cash rebate.

A rebate is a form of buying discount and is an amount paid by way of reduction, return, or refund that is paid retrospectively. It is a type of sales promotion that marketers use primarily as incentives or supplements to product sales.

A rebate is, by definition, a sum of money that is paid back to you. You'll most commonly have experienced this in the form of a tax rebate, i.e., a situation in which you have paid too much tax and are due a repayment.

The rebate form itself is what outlines the specific parameters of the rebate offer, but it is also where contact information must be provided so that the rebate can be issued upon acceptance. Expect to include contact details such a full name, address, and a phone number in order to fully submit a rebate claim.