IRS Continues Efforts to Help People Receive Stimulus Payments

NEW ORLEANS - With the April 15th tax filing deadline quickly approaching, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that free help is available and announced extended hours at some locations. Many IRS offices around the state of Louisiana will be open on Saturday, April 12, 2008 to help people file a tax return in order to receive their Economic Stimulus Payment, commonly referred to as a rebate.

Nearly 300 Taxpayer Assistance Centers will have special hours on Saturday, April 12th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time to help people filing solely to claim the economic stimulus payment.  IRS personnel will be on hand to answer questions about the Economic Stimulus payments and prepare the simple Form 1040A for people who are filing a return solely to receive their stimulus payment.  Assistance will also be provided for taxpayers preparing regular tax returns. Also on April 12, the IRS will offer special Saturday hours on the toll-free help line at 1-800-829-1040 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time.

The following Louisiana offices are offering services on this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. along with extended hours during the week. 

ALEXANDRIA 3508 Government Street Extended hours – Weekdays – Now through 4/15 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
BATON ROUGE 2600 Citiplace Centre Extended hours – Weekdays – Now through 4/15 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
LAFAYETTE 4021-A Ambassador Caffery Parkway Extended hours – Weekdays – Now through 4/15 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
LAKE CHARLES 921 Moss Street Extended hours – Weekdays – Now through 4/15 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
NEW ORLEANS 1555 Poydras Street Extended hours – Weekdays – Now through 4/15 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
MONROE 1401 Hudson Lane Extended hours – Weekdays – Now through 4/15 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
SHREVEPORT 3007 Knight Street Extended hours – Weekdays – Now through 4/15 8:30 am to 5:30 pm

The Houma office located at 423 Lafayette Street will not be open on Saturday April 12th, but the office is open late with extended service hours until 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  The Houma office will also have service hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on April 14th and 15th.  The Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe and Shreveport Offices will provide an additional hour of service on April 14th and 15th.  Those offices will be open until 6:30 p.m. to assist taxpayers on the last two days of the filing season.  The New Orleans office will open earlier at 7:30 am on April 14th and 15th and close at 5:30 p.m.

As the filing deadline approaches, help is also available from IRS partners that operate 12,000 volunteer tax preparation sites nationwide. To find a nearby Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or Tax Counseling for the Elderly site, people can call 1-800-906-9887. Most VITA sites offer free services to individuals or families whose income is $40,000 or less. People who are 60 and older are eligible for free help at TCE sites operated by AARP.

Free File, the private-public partnership that offers free tax software and free electronic filing, is available at http://www.irs.gov for people whose income is $54,000 or less. Approximately 70 percent of the nation’s taxpayers are eligible for Free File.

Several Free File partners also are offering free forms and filing for those retirees, disabled veterans and others who are filing a tax return solely to receive the economic stimulus payment. This help is available at Free File – Economic Stimulus Payment at http://www.irs.gov.

Eligible taxpayers will qualify for their stimulus payment simply by filing their 2007 tax return, as they would normally do.

However, people who do not have a tax filing requirement but who have at least $3,000 in income from any combination of earned income, nontaxable combat pay and certain benefits from Social Security, Veterans Affairs and Railroad Retirement must file a 2007 income tax return in order to receive an economic stimulus payment. They may be eligible for the minimum amount of $300 ($600 for married couples) plus the $300 per qualifying child payment.

The IRS urges people who are filing only to receive the economic stimulus payment to use the Form 1040A. All people in this category are eligible for free assistance.

Key Documents Can Help With Tax Returns

For help in completing a tax return, taxpayers are encouraged to bring certain documents to IRS offices or volunteer sites:

· Photo I.D. (valid driver’s license or other photo identification.)

· Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents and/or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration

· Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return

· Current year’s tax package, if you received one

· Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers

· Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)

· A copy of last year’s Federal and State returns if available

· Bank Routing Numbers and Account Numbers for Direct Deposit

· Total paid for day care provider and the day care provider’s tax identification number (the provider’s Social Security Number or the provider’s business Employer Identification Number)

· To file taxes electronically on a married filing joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.

People filing solely to receive the stimulus payment should bring proof that they have at least $3,000 in qualifying income. This would include:

· Form SSA-1099 from Social Security or Form RRB-1099 from Railroad Retirement Board, or if 1099 is not available, a monthly statement and/or the amount of monthly benefits.

· Monthly statement from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs showing payments you received in 2007 for veterans’ disability compensation, disability pension and survivor benefits and/or the amount of monthly benefits.

· Form W-2 showing your non-taxable Qualified Combat Pay.

· Proof of any other income, taxable or nontaxable.

People filing only to receive the economic stimulus payment do not have to file by April 15 and they do not have to file a Form 4868 for an extension.  However, they do need to file Form 1040A by October 15 to receive the payment in 2008.

Taxpayers normally required to file who cannot meet the April 15 deadline should file a Form 4868 to obtain an extension to file until October 15. Taxpayers can use Free File to submit the Form 4868 electronically.