According to a press release provided by the IRS, its offices will be open on Saturday, March 29 to help people in the area file a tax return in order to receive their economic stimulus payment, commonly referred to as a rebate.
IRS personnel will be on hand to answer questions about the economic stimulus payments and file tax returns, which an individual must complete in order to receive a stimulus payment.
Along with more than 300 IRS locations covering all 50 states, the area IRS taxpayer assistance center in Altoona, located at 1601 Eleventh Ave., will be open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for those who may have questions.
This initiative is part of a nationwide campaign called “Super Saturday.” The goal of this day is to help people file for and receive their economic stimulus payments. In addition to “Super Saturday”, many local IRS offices will open on Saturday, April 12 and for extended hours during the week throughout the remainder of the filing season.
Community organizations are also participating in “Super Saturday” by sponsoring tax preparation sites where people can receive tax assistance at no charge as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs.
Millions of people, including approximately 1 million in Pennsylvania, who qualify for an economic stimulus payment may not normally be required to file a tax return and may not have done so in several years. To qualify for the minimum economic stimulus payment, people must have at least $3,000 of qualifying income in any combination income from Social Security retirement, disability or survivors’ benefits; disability compensation, disability pension or survivors’ benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs; Tier 1 benefits from Railroad Retirement, certain combat pay and earned income from wages, salaries, tips or net earnings from self-employment that are includible in taxable income.
Under the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, people may be eligible for the minimum payment of $300 ($600 for married couples) even if they are not normally required to file a tax return because their income falls below the filing requirement. There also is an additional payment of $300 for people with eligible children younger than 17 as of December 31, 2007. However, people must file an income tax return in order to receive the payment.
The IRS web site, IRS.gov, is also a great source of information about the economic stimulus payments, including general information and frequently asked questions.
