Norton Sends Urgent Call for Residents to Get "Free Money" by Oct. 15th Deadline (10/14/08)

Norton Sends Urgent Call for Residents to Get "Free Money" by Oct. 15 Deadline

October 14, 2008

Washington, D.C. - As Congress considers a new stimulus, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today urgently reminded D.C. residents that tomorrow is the deadline to claim their IRS stimulus checks for tax year 2007. "More than 12,000 residents have not claimed their stimulus checks, leaving more than $3.6 million in free money still available to D.C. residents," Norton said. The deadline is tomorrow, Wednesday, October 15. She said that those who have not filed yet may be the people most in need but hardest to reach. For more information, residents should call LaVita Simpson in Norton's Northwest District Office at 783-5065.

Norton took tax experts with her to visit nursing homes to help seniors apply for the stimulus checks because many of them do not need to file income tax forms and may not have been reached with the appropriate forms. She also has reached out to community groups. According to the IRS, many of the 20 million unclaimed checks in the U.S. would go to individuals who normally do not file tax forms because they receive Social Security checks or Veterans Administration Disability Compensation. However, any recipient who receives more than $3,000 through Social Security or VA income, would qualify for the stimulus checks.

An individual may qualify for up to $600; couples for $1,200. Individuals who have no tax liability and are not required to file a tax return because their income is too low or nontaxable may be eligible to receive up to $300; $600 for couples. In addition, individuals and couples may receive up to $300 for each child under the age of 17. Taxpayers may have an opportunity to claim stimulus funds due to them as a recovery rebate credit when they file taxes in 2009 if they miss tomorrow's deadline. Norton said that the recession has become full-blown since the first stimulus checks were issued beginning in May, and these residents, in particular, may well be more in need than they were when the program began.

In addition to calling the Congresswoman's office, residents may also contact the IRS directly at 1-800- 829-1040 or log on to www.irs.gov.