AARP and United Way tax
preparation volunteers helped nearly 2,600 taxpayers
receive about $1.4 million in refunds this year, and
their work isn’t done yet.
AARP is continuing to help
people file for the federal Economic Stimulus
Payment. Trained volunteers are available 10
a.m.-noon each Tuesday at the Blake Library,
2351
SE Monterey Road, Stuart.
In Martin County the IRS
estimates that as of June 19, there are 3,738
potential remaining filers for the Economic Stimulus
Payment. The deadline for filing is Oct. 15, 2008.
This filing affects
certain recipients of Social Security and Veterans
Affairs benefits. Generally, those benefits are
nontaxable and recipients do not typically file tax
returns.
TAX
SEASON RESULTS
Here are the results of the
free tax preparation services conducted Feb. 1-April
15 by United Way of Martin County and AARP
volunteers:
-- United Way of Martin
County’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites
offered free tax help to low- to moderate-income
people (those earning about $40,000 and below). The
emphasis was on reaching people eligible for the
Earned Income Tax Credit. Sites were open in the
evening, by appointment at the Hobe
Sound Library and at the United Way offices in
Stuart. There were 232 returns filed, bringing
taxpayers $156,708 in refunds, including $73,731 in
Earned Income Tax Credit.
In 2007, United Way sites
helped bring 63 people a total of $36,000 in
refunds. The significant increase in service this
year was due to having more volunteers (11),
expanded hours of operation and a more visible
location in Hobe Sound.
--
The AARP Tax Aide program serves taxpayers of any
age and encompasses a greater variety of tax forms
than the VITA sites. This year, AARP handled clients
on a walk-in basis at the Blake, Hoke and Morgade
libraries and at Seacoast National Bank on
Hutchinson Island. There were 2,346 returns filed,
bringing taxpayers $1,238,616 in refunds.
These
totals do not include the amounts received through
the Economic Stimulus Payments, which were also
handled by the tax preparation volunteers.
ABOUT
THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENTS
In
order to receive an economic stimulus payment,
certain retirees and veterans need to file a tax
return by Oct. 15 if they have at least $3,000 from
a combination of certain Social Security benefits,
Veterans benefits and earned income. Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) does not qualify. Also,
residents who can be claimed as a dependent on
someone else's tax return are not eligible.
The
minimum stimulus payment for eligible people is $300
($600 for married filing jointly). The stimulus
payments will not count toward or negatively impact
any other income-based government benefits, such as
Social Security benefits and food stamps.
To
prepare these returns, residents should bring photo
identification, some proof of their Social Security
number – such as a copy of their Social Security
card; their Social Security statement (Form
1099-SSA); or Medicare card – an estimate of the
amount of Social Security, railroad retirement or
veterans benefits received; and any other income
statements (i.e. W-2s, 1099-INT, if received). If
direct deposit will be requested, residents should
bring their bank routing and account numbers.
FOR
MORE INFORMATION
For
more information about the AARP Tax Aide program,
visit
www.aarp.org/taxaide.
More information about the economic stimulus payment
is available at
www.irs.gov
or by calling the IRS toll-free at 1-800-829-1040 or
contacting Peggy O’Malley, IRS senior tax
specialist, at (561) 616-2016.
Information about the results of the volunteer tax
preparation programs is available at
www.unitedwaymartincounty.org/eitc.shtml.
