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Kokua Line
Question: Is there some problem that has caused many people not to receive their 1999 tax instruction booklets? I have talked to many people and most have not received one. Ordinarily, these booklets, which have a person's pre-printed name and Social Security number on them, arrive right after the end of the year. Calls to IRS toll-free numbers don't help if you want to know why the delay or problem occurred. Tax booklets took
slow trip to HawaiiAnswer: Apparently there has been a delay in the mailings to some people in Hawaii, IRS spokeswoman Shawn George said yesterday.
She said she wasn't aware of a problem when first asked about it by Kokua Line last week. However, as of yesterday, the specific cause was not known.
If you haven't received a tax package and want to file a return right away, George suggested picking one up at the local IRS office, or calling the IRS forms number -- 1-800-829-3676 -- to have one mailed.
You can also get forms by accessing the Internet site www.irs.gov, or by faxing a request to 703-368-9694. You have to call from the phone on your fax machine.
George acknowledged that people like to have forms with their names pre-printed on them (the IRS no longer prints Social Security numbers on labels for security reasons).
But by requesting forms now, they will not be pre-printed with names, she said.
According to the IRS, 47 million taxpayers were scheduled to receive federal tax packages this year, while another 11.5 million who used computer software last year were to receive postcards. Those who previously used professional tax preparers will not receive anything.
Ninety-nine percent of the packages were mailed between Dec. 23 and Jan. 4. About 300,000 were sent out as late as Jan. 7. All packages in this first mailing were expected to be delivered the first two weeks of January, or at least by Jan. 18.
However, there was a second mailing, totaling about 300,000 packets, that was to reach homes during the last two weeks of January. These were for taxpayers who filed their returns "a little later" last year.
You're right that by calling the toll-free information number (1-800-829-1040), you probably wouldn't find out why you didn't get your tax packet yet. That's because the booklets are preprinted by different vendors and are sent out by ZIP code, George said.
WINDWARD TAX PREPARATION SITES
Here are the Tax-Aide sites where trained volunteers will help prepare your income taxes for free (continued from yesterday's column):
Brigham Young University, General Classroom Bldg., 55-220 Kulanui: Feb. 19-April 12 -- Weds., 6-9 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.-noon. Closed April 1.
Mahalo
To the little boy who turned in my handbag to customer service at the Marukai store on Dillingham Boulevard on Dec. 22. It was a relief to receive it back, with everything intact. Also, mahalo to his parents, who raised him right. May your family be blessed throughout your life. -- No name
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com