Yumans fill office for tax help

Joseph Carver has not filled out a tax return since 1985 but the promise of the government's economic stimulus plan got him up bright and early Saturday morning to file.

"I hope it helps," Carver said, as he waited in line Saturday morning with dozens of other local residents at the Yuma Internal Revenue Service's office. "(My rebate will) pay bills, mostly. That's what I do with most of my money. There's a lot of places to put it, all right."

Carver is one of many local retirees whose income comes from Social Security benefits. Normally, he is not required to file a tax return because he does not bring in enough money. But this year he, along with millions of other veterans, low-income residents and Social Security beneficiaries, are eligible for a piece of the economic stimulus package.

The IRS opened its offices across the country this weekend for "Super Saturday," an event targeted at helping those who don't normally file claim their rebate.

Retirees and low-income Yumans packed the IRS office on 2285 S. 4th Ave. Saturday, and volunteers were also on hand at the Martin Luther King Jr. Neighborhood Center and the Fernando Padilla Community Center in San Luis, Ariz.

Under the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, people may be eligible for the minimum payment of $300, or $600 for married couples, even if they are not normally required to file a tax return because their income falls below the filing requirement. There is an additional payment of $300 for people with eligible children younger than 17 as of Dec. 31, 2007.

To qualify for the minimum economic stimulus payment, people must have at least $3,000 of qualifying income in any combination from Social Security retirement, disability or survivors' benefits; disability compensation, disability pension or survivors' benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs; Tier 1 benefits from Railroad Retirement, certain combat pay and earned income from wages, salaries, tips or net earnings from self-employment that are includible in taxable income.

Bill Brunson, spokesperson for the IRS in Arizona, said they project more than 390,000 people in the state fall into this category.

Everyone who intends to claim a rebate must file an income tax return in order to receive the payment.

"Everybody must file a 2007 tax return. That's the mechanism that allows the IRS to go forward and make a stimulus payment," Brunson said.

Even if they did not attend one of Saturday's events, taxpayers still have plenty of time to file. The deadline to file a tax return is April 15, though residents can apply for a six-month extension.

Brunson said he expects taxpayers to receive their rebate by May 2 through direct electronic deposit, or by May 16 if they are getting it by mail.

Anyone with questions about the tax rebate, or filing their tax return, can call the IRS' toll-free telephone assistance line at 1-800-829-1040. Assistance for business-filers is available by calling 1-800-829-4933.

Help for Spanish-speakers will be provided.

Taxpayers are also encouraged to use the IRS official Web site, http://www.irs.gov, to access information and forms.


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Sarah Reynolds can be reached at
sreynolds@yumasun.com or 539-6847.
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FURTHER HELP

Anyone with questions about the tax rebate, or filing their tax return, can call the IRS' toll-free telephone assistance line at 1-800-829-1040. Assistance for business-filers is available by calling 1-800-829-4933.

Help for Spanish-speakers will be provided.

Taxpayers are also encouraged to use the IRS official Web site, http://www.irs.gov, to access information and forms.