Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 5, 1 April 2008 — Tax rebates [ARTICLE]

Tax rebates

A new eeonomie stimulus law authorized by President Bush in February will result in more money for most taxpayers - up to $600 per person, $1,200 per eouple, plus $300 for eaeh qualifying child. To receive the so-called "eeonomie stimulus payment," individuals just have to file their 2007 individual federal ineome tax returns. The Internal Revenue Service will automatically detennine the onetime rebate amounts and send it to qualifiers starting in May. Most people who get tax refunds will qualify for the separate rebate, whieh is expected to affect more than 130 million Anerican households, including low-ineome workers, retirees and disabled veterans who normally don't file tax returns, but who must do so to receive their rebates. For more information, visit www.irs.gov and eliek on "Rebate Questions?" Meanwhile, the IRS is warning people to beware of e-mail and phone scams in whieh someone claiming to be from the IRS asks

for bank account, Social Security, credit card or other personal information that ean be used in identity theft. The scams ean eome with a promise of an advance rebate or via personalized e-mails notifying the recipient of an audit. The IRS doesn't solicit such information via phone or e-mail. Report questionable phone calls or e-mails to phishing@irs.gov. Also, a March 14 eolumn in the weekly newspaper Inelian Country Today warns taxpayers to avoid "predatory tax preparers and payday loan vendors promising instant, on-the-spot payments," services that ean eome with "huge interest rates and hidden fees." It directs taxpayers to Volunteer Ineome Tax Assistance sites, where IRS-certi-fied volunteers prepare and file tax returns for those who qualify, free of charge. For the nearest site, eall 800-829-1040. Aloha United Way also provides such services and information on the rebate. Call 211, visit hawaiitaxhelp.org or

email info@hawaiitaxhelp.org.

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