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2,000-plus county residents don’t seek stimulus payments
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The deadline to file for the 2008 economic stimulus payment is only two months away and more than 2,000 qualifying residents from Northumberland County have not yet filed — a majority of whom are senior citizens.
The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 provided payments of up to $600 for single residents, $1,200 for married couples filing jointly, for taxpayers who normally file a tax return and have a tax liability. The act also created a special category for those who cannot file a tax return because their income is too low or non-taxable.
David Stewart, Pennsylvania media relations for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), said Tuesday that the 2,249 people who haven’t filed for the payment are qualifying retirees who receive Social Security benefits or receive veterans benefits.
For the city of Shamokin, there are 335 residents who have not filed, the overwhelming majority of which are senior citizens. Two-hundred twenty-five people, 65 years old and over, are eligible and have not yet applied.
In Coal Township, 344 residents have not filed, 54 of them being senior citizens. There are 271 qualifying residents in Mount Carmel borough who haven’t applied — 182 of whom are at least 65 years old.
Still, Sunbury has the highest number of residents who haven’t filed in Northumberland County, with 447 qualifying residents without stimulus checks. More than half of those — 274 — are 65 years or older.
According to Pat Rosini, deputy director of the county Area Agency on Aging, she was informed by employees of the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging of the high number of senior citizens who haven’t filed.
Since the agency is not able to obtain the names of those who have not filed, Rosini urged family members to make sure relatives who are receiving Social Security checks file to get their payment before the Oct. 15 deadline.
“With winter coming, every little bit helps,” she said.
Rosini also said Central Susquehanna Opportunities Inc. has employees on hand to help fill out the appropriate forms. If anyone is unable to get to the office, located at 2 E. Arch St. in Shamokin, a caseworker can visit a home to help with the paperwork, Rosini said.
People who cannot file a tax return because their income is too low or non-taxable must have at least $3,000 in qualifying income to be eligible for the minimum stimulus check of $300 for an individual or $600 for married couples filing jointly. Qualifying income is the total Social Security, Veterans Affairs and/or Railroad Retirement benefits plus earned income, including non-taxable combat pay.
People receiving only Supplemental Security Income are not eligible. Applicants must have a Social Security number, unless their spouse is a member of the military, and be neither a dependent nor eligible to be a dependent on another’s tax return.
As of July 11, the IRS had issued 112.4 million payments totaling $91.8 billion. Payments are based on 2007 tax returns, filed this year.
According to a press release from the IRS released in late July, a second set of information packets was sent to 5.2 million people in the U.S. who may be eligible but have not yet filed for a stimulus payment.
The packages will contain instructions, an example Form 1040A return showing the few lines that need to be completed and a blank Form 1040A.
According to the press release, the IRS has accounted for about 75 percent of the approximately 20 million Social Security and Veterans Affairs beneficiaries identified as being potential stimulus recipients.
Those who do not file a tax return to obtain their stimulus payment this year may still receive their stimulus payments by filing a 2008 tax return next spring. In that instance, however, stimulus payments are based on 2008 qualifying income.
On the Web: www.irs.gov
The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 provided payments of up to $600 for single residents, $1,200 for married couples filing jointly, for taxpayers who normally file a tax return and have a tax liability. The act also created a special category for those who cannot file a tax return because their income is too low or non-taxable.
David Stewart, Pennsylvania media relations for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), said Tuesday that the 2,249 people who haven’t filed for the payment are qualifying retirees who receive Social Security benefits or receive veterans benefits.
For the city of Shamokin, there are 335 residents who have not filed, the overwhelming majority of which are senior citizens. Two-hundred twenty-five people, 65 years old and over, are eligible and have not yet applied.
In Coal Township, 344 residents have not filed, 54 of them being senior citizens. There are 271 qualifying residents in Mount Carmel borough who haven’t applied — 182 of whom are at least 65 years old.
Still, Sunbury has the highest number of residents who haven’t filed in Northumberland County, with 447 qualifying residents without stimulus checks. More than half of those — 274 — are 65 years or older.
According to Pat Rosini, deputy director of the county Area Agency on Aging, she was informed by employees of the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging of the high number of senior citizens who haven’t filed.
Since the agency is not able to obtain the names of those who have not filed, Rosini urged family members to make sure relatives who are receiving Social Security checks file to get their payment before the Oct. 15 deadline.
“With winter coming, every little bit helps,” she said.
Rosini also said Central Susquehanna Opportunities Inc. has employees on hand to help fill out the appropriate forms. If anyone is unable to get to the office, located at 2 E. Arch St. in Shamokin, a caseworker can visit a home to help with the paperwork, Rosini said.
People who cannot file a tax return because their income is too low or non-taxable must have at least $3,000 in qualifying income to be eligible for the minimum stimulus check of $300 for an individual or $600 for married couples filing jointly. Qualifying income is the total Social Security, Veterans Affairs and/or Railroad Retirement benefits plus earned income, including non-taxable combat pay.
People receiving only Supplemental Security Income are not eligible. Applicants must have a Social Security number, unless their spouse is a member of the military, and be neither a dependent nor eligible to be a dependent on another’s tax return.
As of July 11, the IRS had issued 112.4 million payments totaling $91.8 billion. Payments are based on 2007 tax returns, filed this year.
According to a press release from the IRS released in late July, a second set of information packets was sent to 5.2 million people in the U.S. who may be eligible but have not yet filed for a stimulus payment.
The packages will contain instructions, an example Form 1040A return showing the few lines that need to be completed and a blank Form 1040A.
According to the press release, the IRS has accounted for about 75 percent of the approximately 20 million Social Security and Veterans Affairs beneficiaries identified as being potential stimulus recipients.
Those who do not file a tax return to obtain their stimulus payment this year may still receive their stimulus payments by filing a 2008 tax return next spring. In that instance, however, stimulus payments are based on 2008 qualifying income.
On the Web: www.irs.gov
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