Posted: 7/20/2008 at 12:16 PM
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Hi fellow Vets! I have been waiting for my Economic Stimulus Rebate check, and since the last mailing of these has supposedly already occured, it was time to start asking, "Where's my check"? To my shock and surprise, the reason I haven't gotten it is because according to the IRS, I didn't qualify for it!!!! I want to make this short and to the point, so here's why I'm posting this. I had my tax return prepared by H&R Block like I always do, and I trusted that they should know what to put on my form 1040 to make sure if I'm entitled to it, that I would get my Economic Stimulus Rebate check. That was a big mistake. H&R Block did not include my VA Disability payments on line 20A, which is a box for SSI, Railroad Retirement, and....VA Disability payments. You don't HAVE to fill this in for VA Disability, because it's not taxable. However, if you don't otherwise qualify for the Economic Stimulus Rebate check, and you leave this box 20A blank, you will miss out on your rebate! I file married filing jointly, and because of this ommission, it cut me out of qualifying for $1200.00!
Now, here's the fix: If you did NOT qualify for your rebate because you left your VA Disability payments off of your Federal Income Tax return form 1040, (like most of us always do), you can file an ammendment to your return by obtaining a form 1040-X online from the IRS, and writing across the top of the form, "Stimulus Payment". Fill out name, address, filing status (such as Married filing jointly) etc. in the top section of the form, but leave all lines blank except on the back of the form, in the Explanation section, but in the Total Veterans Benefits amount for 2007(monthly check multiplied by 12). Sign it and mail to your state's IRS Center, where you normally send your Federal Tax Return. If you make enough from VA Disability, you may qualify for the rebate even if you didn't from other income. It's worth a try.
I got this information directly from the IRS. I used the Economic Rebate qualification worksheet on their website to see what my rebate would be, and that's how I found out that without my VA Disablity benefits listed on line 20A, I did not qualify. With box 20A filled in on the worksheet, it told me I was entitled to $1200.00. A call to the IRS, and a short talk with a friendly customer service person there confirmed this and she was very helpful and told me what I've told you here. Hope this helps any fellow Vets who are in my situation with limited income last year. That extra $1200 bucks is going to help a LOT for my family and I am sure there are many other Vets in the same boat. It's your entitlement, so don't just leave it on the books; you EARNED it and there is no shame in getting what's yours. Have a FINE NAVY DAY!
V/R,
Joel
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