Hello Everyone:

I just want to give you a heads up for your elderly family and friends.

The economic stimulus payments will begin mailing to households in May.  However, to receive a payment you have to file your 2007 tax return.  I know most of us worker bees have filed or will be filing our returns, but if you have an elderly family member or friend who doesn’t file (usually, because they only receive social security or other retirement benefits that aren’t taxable) they will have to file a return to be eligible for a payment.

There are four income sources that are eligible for a stimulus payment if the return is filed:

1. Earned income (wages and self-employment income)
2. Social Security
3. Certain Railroad Retirement benefits
4. Veterans’ disability compensation, pension or survivors’ benefits received from the VA

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not count.

The IRS emphasized that people with no filing requirement who turn in a tax return to qualify for the economic stimulus payment will not get a tax bill.  People in this category will not owe money because of the payment.

Please refer your family or friends to a local VITA site.  There is no cost to have a return prepared at a VITA site.  I am a certified tax preparer at the VITA site at Dear Neighbor Ministries at 1329 S. Bluffview in Wichita and we are trying to get the word out to all senior citizens.  An appointment to have a “Stimulus Payment” tax return prepared can be made by calling them at 684-5120.  The United Way is also getting the word out and has mobile sites that they are using.  You can call 211 and ask them about these sites.

Please pass this on or let people know about it.  If you have any questions about it, feel free to contact me.

Larry Schmitz II

President
Medical Community Credit Union
1144 S Clifton
Wichita, KS 67218

(316) 687-4101
(316) 687-4170 fax

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