Retirees, vets target of IRS rebate push
- June
- 19
About a quarter of the nation’s disabled veterans or retirees have yet to claim rebates under President Bush’s $146 billion economic-stimulus plan, the Internal Revenue Service said today.
In New York state, fresh data show that just 67 percent of the 1.3 million potential retiree/disabled veteran filers are accounted for, leaving some 440,000 potential recipients remaining.
In response the Internal Revenue Service has begun a campaign to reach out to those who qualify for the economic stimulus payment but haven’t yet filed to claim it.
They include nearly 30,000 residents of the Lower Hudson Valley. Westchester County accounts for 20,861 of those eligible but who haven’t filed. In Rockland, 6,758 retirees or disabled veterans have yet to claim, while in Putnam, 1,704 are eligible.
Of the top 20 cities statewide, Yonkers at No. 4, Mount Vernon at No. 12, New Rochelle at No. 13 and White Plains at No. 16 account have more than 10,500 of the state’s retirees and disabled veterans who have yet to file to receive the payment.
The stimulus plan allows the 20 million Americans who receive Social Security or Veteran’s Affairs benefits but who don’t normally file income tax returns to receive the minimum payment of $300 ($600 for married couples), plus $300 for each qualifying child.
“Some retirees and others who normally do not file a tax return may be eligible and not know it,” IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said in a written statement.
The IRS could use the public’s help, Shulman said.
“If you know of a retiree or a disabled veteran who might qualify, please pass along the information to them,” he said.
To get the payment, retirees or disabled veterans must fill out a 1040A tax form with basic information, including: name; address; dependents, if any; amount of qualifying income (which must be $3,000 or more); direct deposit information and signatures.
The IRS can issue payments by check, but the agency encourages people to use direct deposit for speedier delivery.
Forms 1040A, along with instructions, are available at www.irs.gov and must be filed by Oct. 15.
Posted by David Schepp on Thursday, June 19th, 2008 at 4:07 pm | 
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