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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Filing a return will get you a tax rebate
Question: Recently, I read that in order to receive the rebate from the Internal Revenue Service, a Form 1040A must be filed. Is this true? I have already filed my taxes using another form and received my refund. Do I need to resubmit to receive the rebate? I did receive the notice from the IRS telling me I would get the rebate. This is all so confusing.
Answer: You don't have to do anything else, if you already filed your 2007 federal tax return using Forms 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ.
You can go online at www.irs.gov/app/espc/ to see whether you do qualify for the "economic stimulus payment" (a maximum $600 for individuals and $1,200 for joint filers, plus $300 for each qualified dependent child).
Not everyone, such as those with very high incomes, will qualify, but the IRS says most tax filers will: "All you need to do is file a federal income tax return for 2007."
That includes certain people (e.g., low-income workers; Social Security beneficiaries; and those who received veterans' disability compensation, pension or survivors' benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs) who are not required to file federal tax returns.
If those people had at least $3,000 in qualifying income and file a return this year, they will be eligible to receive the rebates.
The IRS automatically will figure out the amount of payment qualified taxpayers are due.
Some taxpayers will receive less than the maximum payments.
If you file your return by April 15, you might get your rebate check as early as the first week in May.
The rebate check will be separate from any refund check you may receive.
The IRS will use the last two digits of Social Security numbers to determine the order in which the checks are mailed or direct deposited.
For those opting for direct deposit: Rebates will be sent by May 2 to those with Social Security numbers ending in 00 to 20; by May 9, 21-75; and by May 16, 76-99.
For those receiving paper checks: Checks should be mailed by May 16 to numbers 00-09; by May 23, 10-18; by May 30, 19-25; by June 6, 26-38; by June 13, 39-51; by June 20, 52-63; by June 27, 64-75; by July 4, 76-87; and by July 11, 88-99.
The IRS says a small percentage of returns will take longer to process. In those cases, the bonus checks might not be sent according to the above schedule, even if the returns were processed by April 15.
Mahalo
To the man in a white truck who responded to the impatient driver at 5:30 a.m. yesterday at the corner of Moanalua Road and Koauka Loop in Aiea. A pedestrian was crossing the street with the green light and an impatient driver behind the truck honked to get him to move. He called out that there was a pedestrian and to "hold your horses." Being there at that intersection and at that hour, I'm grateful to patient, attentive drivers like him. -- Grateful Pedestrian
Got a question or complaint? Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered. E-mail to
kokualine@starbulletin.com.
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