What do a politician, a tax preparer and the IRS have in common?
They are campaigning to inform senior citizens and low-income people they must file a tax return to receive their economic stimulus checks from the government.
The outreach is gaining momentum as the April 15 deadline for filing approaches. The IRS is sending letters to senior citizens. The governor issued a media release Thursday, reminding New Yorkers to file and announcing an effort by state commissioners, IRS officials and community leaders to urge filing. A local tax preparer is having free sessions in Unadilla and Otego to prepare forms.
``I'm still not convinced that a lot of eligible people really know they have to do a form,'' said Lew Keyser, owner of Tax Resolutions in Otego.
Residents who receive Social Security, railroad retirement or veterans income may no longer be filing tax forms annually, said Keyser, who worked 20 years for the IRS. But to receive a stimulus check this year, they must file a return.
Under the program, the IRS will issue rebates of up to $600 or $1,200 to most taxpayers and $300 to disabled veterans, the elderly and other low-income people.
Tax Resolutions has set dates to help people file for the rebates who don't otherwise need to submit tax returns. Sessions will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Unadilla Fire House and March 29 at the Otego Fire House. Appointments aren't necessary, Keyser said.
Filers need to bring proof of income, Keyser said, and they will leave with a form ready to sign and mail.
Gov. David Paterson, a Democrat, said senior citizens and other low-income New Yorkers don't have to spend needlessly on a tax preparer for help filing tax forms.
``The state and other community organizations have centers throughout New York offering free tax preparation that will allow these individuals to avoid fees charged by commercial tax preparers," Paterson said in the release.
The Delaware County Office for the Aging has been receiving too many calls to count about the rebate program, said receptionist Rachel Ryan. The office has some forms, she said, and questions are forwarded to AARP tax counselors.
Frances Wright, director of the Otsego County Office for the Aging, said about 600 packets have been prepared, and hundreds distributed, with a questionnaire and other data to help senior citizens apply for their checks. Prices for heating oil, gasoline and food are rising, making it important for senior citizens to have the extra money, she said.
Forms may be filed after the April 15, Wright said, and the office will also be able to help after the deadline.
``We want to encourage people to apply,'' Wright said.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said thousands of low-income recipients across the state don't know requirements of the program and risk not receiving checks. Returns must be filed because Social Security files and Internal Revenue Service databases are separate, he said.
Stimulus checks will be sent out based on IRS records. Schumer said the IRS has placed a sample 1040A form on its website.
Stimulus payments aren't taxable, IRS officials said, and other benefits seniors may receive from the federal government will not be impacted by the economic stimulus payment.
At the Social Security office in Oneonta, district manager Kemp Baratier said the staff fields 10 or 15 questions a day about the stimulus program.
Many requests are for duplicate copies of 1099 forms, but they aren't necessary to file a return, Baratier said. Senior citizens can estimate their 2007 income, he said. He referred inquiries to the IRS and also provides information in his weekly column published Fridays in The Daily Star.
``Hopefully, we'll get the word out,'' Baratier said.
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