WASHINGTON   –  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today reminded Eighth Congressional District recipients of Social Security, Railroad Retirement and veterans disability benefits that they must file a 2007 Federal Income Tax return to be eligible for a stimulus tax rebate from the federal government – even if they would not ordinarily do so.

“As the deadline approaches for tax filers this year, everyone who is eligible for a tax rebate in Southern Missouri should be aware that there is only one requirement – file a return,” said Emerson.  “The IRS has also made free-file available to Americans who would not ordinarily file a tax return, but who are eligible for the tax rebate.”

Special information packets should be mailed to Social Security and veterans disability payment recipients this week.

The IRS has hosted Question-and-Answer guidance on its homepage at www.irs.gov.  It also released the following statement:

The law also allows for payments for select taxpayers who have no tax liability, such as low-income workers or those who received Social Security benefits or veterans’ disability compensation, pension or survivors’ benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2007. These taxpayers will be eligible to receive a payment of $300 ($600 on a joint return) if they had at least $3,000 of qualifying income.

Qualifying income includes Social Security benefits, certain Railroad Retirement benefits, certain veterans’ benefits and earned income, such as income from wages, salaries, tips and self-employment. While these people may not be normally required to file a tax return because they do not meet the filing requirement, the IRS emphasizes they must file a 2007 return in order to receive a payment.

 
Recipients of Social Security, certain Railroad Retirement and certain veterans’ benefits should report their 2007 benefits on Line 14a of Form 1040A or Line 20a of Form 1040. Taxpayers who already have filed but failed to report these benefits can file an amended return by using Form 1040X. The IRS is working with the Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that recipients are aware of this issue.