Deadline looming for stimulus payments

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: October 9, 2008 - 1:11 PM

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The clock is ticking for thousands of Minnesotans who are eligible to get an economic stimulus payment, but have not yet filed their income tax returns.

According to IRS estimates, more than 24,200 people in the seven-county metro area who receive Social Security or Veterans Affairs benefits have not submitted returns this year and are in danger of missing out on collecting up to $300 from the federal government.

The deadline is Wednesday.

About 11,200 residents in Hennepin County eligible to get the stimulus checks have not filed. Statewide, more than 51,600 have not filed, the Minnesota Department of Revenue said.

Those number could be low because they don't factor in people who don't make enough to pay taxes, receive nontaxable combat pay or railroad retirees. Those groups and those who receive Veterans or Social Security benefits are normally not required to file tax returns. They must file in order to get the stimulus check, said IRS spokeswoman Carrie Resch.

Those who don't normally income file tax returns are eligible for a payment of up to $300 or $600 per couple. They can get an additional $300 for qualifying child.

To qualify, filers must have income totaling $3,000 or more from any of the following sources:

• Social Security disability, retirement and survivor benefits (reported in Box 5 of Form SSA-1099)

• Social Security-equivalent Railroad Retirement Board Tier I benefits (reported in Box 5 of Form RRB-1099)

• Veterans Affairs disability, pension and survivor benefits

• Earned income, including: wages, salaries, tips and other employee compensation, but only if such amounts are includable in gross income for the taxable year; or net earnings from self-employment includable in income for the taxable year, after deducting one-half of any self-employment taxes due.

Nationwide there are 4.3 million people who have claimed the stimulus payment, the IRS said.

To get forms and requirements, Resch said filers should go to the IRS website at www.irs.gov and type "1040A-3" in the search box. That will take them to a page with the proper forms and instructions for filling them out.

Taxpayers can also call a hotline at 1-866-234-2942 or visit the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center at 1550 E. American Blvd. in Bloomington; 250 Marquette Av. in Minneapolis, or 30 E. 7th St. in St. Paul.