Written by MPVA

On February 16, 2008 the Internal Revenue Service released additional instructions on how veterans who otherwise may not file a federal income tax return for 2007 must proceed in order to receive the Economic Stimulus Package rebate.

This information may be viewed directly at the IRS website:  http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=179096,00.html

Veterans receiving disability compensation or pension payments who otherwise may not normally file federal income tax returns must do so in order to claim the rebate.

Veterans receiving disability compensation or pension payments may have filed a 2007 tax return reporting at least $3,000 in qualifying income. They do not need to do anything else. They will begin receiving their stimulus payments in early May.

However, others may need to amend a previously filed tax return to include benefits to reach the $3,000 qualifying income level. Adding these benefits on an amended tax return will not increase an individual's tax liability but will establish eligibility for the stimulus payment. Taxpayers can use IRS Form 1040X to amend a tax return in order to qualify for the stimulus payment.

View and download helpful documents here:

• Instructions from the IRS
• Blank IRS Form 1040a
• Sample Filled-out IRS Form 1040a