Senior Letter - April 2008

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April 2008


Dear Seniors:

I recognize that these are tough economic times. I would like to take this opportunity to share some news with you that may help to ease this burden.

Together with my Congressional colleagues, I worked on crafting an economic stimulus package which offers important financial relief to many seniors. Those who received at least $3,000 during 2007 from Social Security, veteran’s benefits, railroad retirement, earned income, or a combination of any of these, are now eligible for a rebate of $300 individually, or $600 for married couples.

Below are the key steps to successfully completing your tax return to claim your rebate:

  • To receive the rebate, those who are eligible must submit tax return Form 1040A to the IRS by April 15, 2008.
  • Form 1040A can be obtained at most public libraries, or downloaded at www.irs.gov.
  • Title the form “Stimulus Payment”, and fill out your name, address and Social Security number where required.
  • On Line 7 report any earned income you received in 2007; and on Line 14a report any Social Security and/ or veteran’s benefits you received during 2007.
  • If you are a retiree qualifying for the rebate, this information should be mailed to you by early February on Form 1099-SSA. Should you not receive this form, an estimate can be used instead: multiplying your monthly benefit by the number of months during which you received Social Security in 2007.
  • Once you have signed the form at the bottom, it can be mailed to the U.S. IRS state office in Massachusetts.

If you should require any assistance in filing your tax return, the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program provides free tax help to people aged 60 and older. Your nearest site can be located by either calling (888)-227-7669, or by visiting www.aarp.org.

For more information, please call the nearest Taxpayer Assistance Center, which is in Stoneham, at (781) 835-4350. If you need additional assistance, please call the Taxpayer Advocate Service in Boston at (617) 316-2690 or (877) 777-4778.

Finally, if you are interested in filing your taxes electronically, I encourage you to visit the IRS’s website at www.irs.gov/efile for more information.

As always, please feel free to call Cheryl Gresek in my Peabody office at (978) 531-1669 if you have any questions.

Sincerely,



John F. Tierney
Member of Congress