LAKE COUNTY — Social Security beneficiaries, veterans, railroad retirees, military personnel and low-income wage earners who are not usually required to file a tax return may still be able to get an economic stimulus check, according to Internal Revenue Service spokesman Jesse Weller. The deadline is Oct. 15.
President George W. Bush signed House of Representatives Bill 5140, the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, in February. The bill provides temporary tax incentives for businesses and tax rebates of up to $600 for an individual or $1,200 for a married couple filing jointly. In addition, Weller said taxpayers may qualify to get up to $300 per child.
“The good news is that even though the April 15 deadline has passed, that does not mean you have lost out or missed out on your economic stimulus payment,” Weller said.
People who receive Social Security disability benefits are among those who may qualify for the stimulus check, even if they have not yet filed a tax return.
The Social Security Administration”s Lakeport office manager Pam Phillips said 12,070 people receive Social Security benefits in Lake County.
“We don”t know who draws what, but we know their income has to be at least $3,000 to receive it,” Phillips said.
Other groups not required to file may still qualify for the stimulus check, including veterans receiving disability or survivor payments, soldiers receiving combat pay, railroad retirees and wage earners who do not make enough to be required to file a tax return. Weller said in general, a single person who earned less than $8,750 in 2007 is not required to file.
The IRS sent notices to Social Security beneficiaries, those receiving veterans” benefits and low-income wage earners.
“We needed to reach out to people in these three categories and make them aware that even though they are not required to file, they may be eligible for the stimulus payment if they do file. The only way to get it is to file a 2007 tax return,” Weller said.
The amount of the check varies from person to person based on circumstances, but Weller said the amount of the check goes up for people age 65 and older.
Taxpayers who earn enough to be required to file a return, as well as those who are not required to file, have until Oct. 15 to file for the economic stimulus payment, according to Weller. He said the IRS must make the payments by Dec. 31.
More than 10 million nationwide filed for a six-month extension by the filing deadline of April 15, according to Weller.
“Then there are people who don”t file an extension but file late anyway. In any case, you can get the payment if you file by Oct. 15,” Weller said.
An online calculator and information about when economic stimulus checks can be expected to arrive in the mail are available at www.irs.gov.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
