Dear Friends,
In early February, the U.S. Congress approved an economic stimulus package, which passed both the House and Senate by wide margins and was signed by President Bush. I supported this package, which includes a tax rebate check for low-income individuals, including retirees on Social Security and disabled veterans who pay no income taxes. This relief could not have come a moment too soon for millions of hardworking American families and small businesses as well as those restricted to a fixed source of income.
Many senior citizens who have not filed income taxes have contacted my Washington and Virginia Beach district offices about how to receive their rebate check. In order to qualify for a tax rebate, you must file a tax form for 2007. If you have filed income taxes on more than $3,000.00 in income for 2007, no extra steps are needed. However, if you have not filed a tax form, here are the necessary steps and some helpful sources of information for you.
• Write the words “Stimulus Payment” across the top of a 1040A form.
• On the 1040A form, fill out the label section with your name, address, and social security number.
• In box 14a, fill out your actual or estimated Social Security income for 2007.
• If you want your rebate check to be a direct deposit, fill out lines 44 b, c, and d.
• Sign the return and mail to:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Atlanta, GA 39901-0015
Please find the 1040A form here for your convenience. The IRS recommended that seniors file on April 15, 2008, but the final deadline for filing is October 15, 2008. Additional information regarding your stimulus check may be obtained through the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov, by contacting the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program at 1-800-906-9887. The American Association of Retired Persons has also established a toll-free hotline at 1-888-227-7669.
Should you have any additional concerns about this or any other federal matter, please do not hesitate to contact my district offices in Virginia Beach (757-497-6859) and the Eastern Shore (757-787-7836) for further assistance.
