Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: The federal government announced last year that we would have some tax money returned. In September a check for $600 was received. However, my husband passed away in August, so I asked that the check be made out in my name only because the bank would not accept it made out to both my husband and me. I received a letter saying my case was under review. Nothing happened until January, when a letter arrived saying the check had been canceled. The letter also said: "The law requires us to mail all immediate tax relief checks by 12/31/01. We regret we couldn't mail your check by that date. An unresolved issue on your 2000 tax account did not permit us to complete the process before 12/31/01. You cannot get the advance payment." There was no explanation of the unresolved issues. The letter also said: "Instead we may be able to get the rate reduction credit on your 2001 Federal Tax return. See form 2001 for instructions for information about this credit and how to claim it." Our filing status does not change for a joint filer until the tax year 2002 is to be filed, so why should my husband's death affect the tax relief check? Federal tax rebate checks
ran into glitches for someAnswer: IRS spokeswoman Shawn George apologized for your not receiving a reissued tax relief check before the Dec. 31 deadline, especially under such sad circumstances.
She said someone would explain your particular situation and tell you how to claim your tax relief amount.
About 91.6 million such checks were issued by the IRS last year.
Among them, "there were a very small percentage that could not be delivered or had special circumstances that made it impossible to reissue by the Dec. 31, 2001, statutory deadline," George said.
However, individuals who were due a check but who did not receive it last year can still get the benefit.
They must claim the amount as the "rate reduction credit" on their 2001 tax returns, George said. "This will lessen the federal tax they have to pay for 2001 or increase their refund check by the amount of their credit."
Q: There is a home on Skyline Drive that is lived in but in a dilapidated condition. Numerous complaints about a yard that has not been cleaned for years with weeds growing up several feet high have resulted in the city issuing citations. Since the citations are ignored, the city has cleaned the sidewalk area of weeds. However, the yard remains uncleaned. The owner, unfortunately, has Alzheimer's, and her caregiver does not respond to the city's citations. Recently, the home's garage roof caved in from termites, and there is electrical wiring hanging loosely among the debris. I've also called the Department of Human Services Adult Protective Services office about getting services for this woman, but nothing has been done.
A: The bad and possibly hazardous condition of the house and yard have been verified by city building inspectors, but apparently, the elderly owner is no longer living in the home.
The first citation -- for a yard overgrown with weeds -- was issued by building inspectors on Nov. 14, according to city records.
Because the yard was not cleaned, "We went to the next step: A notice of order was issued for civil fines," said William Deering, chief of the city Housing Code Section. That was on March 5.
Subsequently, inspectors found the "garage has collapsed," and a notice of violation was issued on Wednesday.
Last Monday, a city electrical inspector visited the home and discovered that the electric meter was attached to the collapsed carport and that the feeder wire was hanging. "So a notice of violation was issued" and the matter referred immediately to the city's code compliance division for action because of the hazardous condition, Deering said.
However, he said when inspectors went to the home, "there was nobody there." There was an unconfirmed report that a relative may be staying there from time to time, he said.
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