WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service said Monday it will contact some 20.5 million people who receive Social Security or Veterans Affairs benefits to ensure they don’t miss out on the economic stimulus payment of at least $300.
The tax agency said that starting next week it will begin sending out 10-page packages with filing instructions and a Form 1040A for the filer to complete. The package will go to people who may qualify for the economic stimulus payment enacted by Congress but who normally aren’t required to file a tax return.
People must file a return to receive the stimulus benefit which is worth from $300 to $600 for individuals and $600 to $1,200 for couples. Parents will receive an additional $300 for each eligible child under age 17. To qualify, a person must have at least $3,000 in income from earnings and retirement, disability or survivors’ benefits.
The IRS previously announced it was sending out 130 million letters to households that filed returns for the 2006 tax season to remind them that they must file a return to receive the stimulus payment.
This mailing drew criticism from Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who said the agency was spending nearly $42 million to contact people who normally file returns and would get their payments automatically.
The IRS said its latest mailing does not include low-wage workers with no obligation to file a return. It said it was working with community, governmental and charitable groups to reach these workers and advise them on how to get the payment.
“We don’t want anyone to fall through the cracks,” said acting IRS Commissioner Linda E. Stiff.
On the Net:
IRS: www.irs.gov/
