SeniorTo\get a rebate check, file a tax return 1\

Dear Savvy Senior,My question is in regard to

the government's stimulusrebate check. I'm 75 yearsold and live primarily on mySocial Security and have n"otbeen required to file incometaxes for many years. Am 1eligible for this tax rebateand what do I need to do toget it?

Shallow Pockets

Dear Shallow,The economic stimulus

package that PTesident Bushsigned into law on Feb. 13means that around 130 mil"lion Americans will be eligi-ble to receive a tax 'rebatecheck beginni"ng in May. Butthere's a catch lowerincome seniors need toknow about!

Eligible Filers. Those eligible to receiveUncle Sam's tax rebate musthave a valid Social Securitynumber and have earned atleast $3,000 in 2007 - which

Savvy SeniorJim Miller

includes earned income,Social Security, . RailroadRetirement and veteran'sbenefits (551 does notcount). But here's the catch.In order to receive it, youhave to file a 2007 federaltax return.

Even if you aren't normal-ly required to file a incometax return - and around 20million seniors and low-income workers aren't -you must file one this yearif you want to receive yourrebate. The reason for themandatory filing is becausethe IRS will be using the

information on your 2007tax return to determine youreligibility and to calculatethe amount 'of your pay-ment. So no tax returnmeans no rebate!

Note: Wealthier taxpayerswhose income tops $75,000for single filers and$150,000 for married cou-ples filing jointly will facephase-out rebates. Thismeans that their rebateswill be reduced by $50 forevery $1,000 above the$75,000 and $150,000income limits.

How MuchRebate checks will range

from $300 to $600 for indi-viduals and $600 to $1200for joint filers. Some tax-payers with children willreceive an additional $300per child. Here's how itbreaks down:

Individuals will receive aminimum of $300 if theypaid $0 to $300 in federal

income taxes in 2007.Individuals who paid

between $300 and $600 dol-lars will receive a rebateequal to the amount oftaxes they paid.

Individuals who paid over$600 in taxes, they willreceive a maximum rebateof $600. Note: All of thesenumbers double for marriedcouples.

Already Filed?Taxpayers who already

filed a return do not need todo anything else. However,if you filed a return butreported less than $3,000 inincome, you may need tofile an amended return tobe sure your qualifyingSocial Security or veterans'benefits are counted.Adding these bel~efits on anamended tax return will notincrease an individual's taxliability but will establisheligibility for the stimuluspayment.

Savvy Tips: If you have

other' questions about the,tax rebate payments visitthe IRS Web site!(www.irs.gov) where you'llfind the most accurate andup-to-da te information. 01'if you don't have access tothe Internet, call the IRShe lpline at 800-829-1040.And for help preparing your'taxes, don't forget about:AARP's Tax-Aide program. IA free tax preparation and I

counseling service availableto older taxpayers, and you Idon't have to be an A.I\RPmember to get help. Tolocate a Tax-Aide site near'you (there are more than7,000 nationwide), call 888-227-7669 or visitwww.aarp. org/taxaide.

Send your senior questionsto: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box5443, Norman, OK 73070, orvisit www.savvysenior.org.Jim Miller is a contributorto the NBC Today show and!author of "The SavvySenior" book.

Departmentof theTreasury-InternalRevenueServiceU.S. Individual Income Tax Return

Label Your first name and initial Last name OMSNo.1545-0074!

(Seepage15.) L, Yoursocialsecuritynumber

A , ,B Ifajointreturn.spouse'sfirstnameandinitial , Spouse'ssocialsecuritynumberE Lastname

Use the L,, , ,,

IRS label.,

H Homeaddress(numberandstreet).If youhaveaP.O. box.seepage15. I Apt.no. , ••• You must enter •••OthelWise. ER

, your SSN(s)above.pleaseprintor type. E City.townorpostoffice.state,andZIP code.~youhavea foreignaddress.seepage15. . J Checkinga box belowwill notPresidential changeyourtax or refund.

If morethansixdependents,seepage18.

ElectionCampaign ~ Checkhere if you, or your spouseif filing jointly, want $3 to go to this fund (seepage 15) ~ 0 You 0 SpouseFiling 1 0 Single 40 Headofhousehold(withqualifyingperson).(Seepage16.)status 2 0 Marriedfiling jointly (evenif only one had income) If thequafifyingpersonis a childbut notyourdependent,Checkonly 3 0 Marriedfiling separately.Enterspouse's SSN aboveand enterthis child'snamehere.~ _onebox. full namehere. ~ 50 Qualifyingwidow(er)with dependentchild (seepage17)Exemptions 6a 0 Yourself. If someone can claim you as a dependent, do not check } Boxes

box 6a. ~::e;~~bonb0 Spouse .~ No. of children

on 6cwho:• lived withyou• did not livewith you dueto divorceorseparation(see page 19)

c Dependents:(2) Dependent'ssocial (3) Dependent's (4):{if qualifying

relationshipto childfor child(1) Firstname Last name securitynumber you tax credit (see

page18), : 0,,: : 0, , 0, ,: : 0: : - 0, : 0,

Dependentson 6c notenteredabove

o anum er 0 exemptions c alme . above~IncomeAttach 7 Waqes, salaries, tips, etc. Attach Form(s) W-2. 7

Fonn(s} W-28a Taxable interest. Attach Schedule 1 if reauired. 8ahere. Also

attach b Tax-exempt interest. Do not include on line 8a. 8bFonn(s} 9a Ordinary dividends. Attach Schedule 1 if required. 9a1099-R if tax b Qualified dividends (see page 22). 9bwas withheld. 10 Capital gain distributions (see page 22). 10If youdidnot 11a IRA 11b Taxable amountgeta W-2. see distributions. 11a (see page 22). 11bpage21.

12a Pensions and 12b Taxable amountEnclose.butdo annuities. 12a (see page 23). 12bnotattach,anypayment.

13 Unemployment compensation and Alaska Permanent Fund dividends. 1314a Social security 14b Taxable amount

benefits. 14a (see page 25). 14b

15 Add lines 7 through 14b (far right column). This is your total income. ~ 15Adjusted

16 Educator expenses (see page 25). 16grossincome 17 IRA deduction (see page 27). 17

18 Student loan interest deduction (see paqe 29). 18

19 Tuition and fees deduction. Attach Form 8917. 19

Addnumbers Don lines

21 Subtract line 20 from line 15. This is your adjusted gross income.. ~ 21For Disclosure, Privacy Act, and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see page 74. Cat.No.11327A Form 1040A (2007)

Form 1040A (2007)

22 Enter the amount from line 21 (adjusted gross income).Page 21=Tax,

credits, {and 23a ~heck 0 You were bom before January 2,1943, 0 Blind} Total boxes

If: 0 Spouse was bom before January 2, 1943, 0 Blind checked ~

payments b If you are married filing separately and your spouse itemizesdeductions, see page 30 and check here ~Standard

Deductionfor-

• People whochecked anybox on line'23a or 23b orwho can beclaimed as adependent,see page 30.

• All others:

Single orMarried filingseparately,$5,350

Married filingjointly orQualifyingwidow(er),.$10,700

Head ofhousehold, .$7,850

If you havea qualifyingchild, attachScheduleEIC.

Directdeposit?See page 52and fill in44b,44c,and 44d orForm 8888.

Amountyou owe 47Third partydesignee

SignhereJoint return?See page 15.Keep a copyfor yourrecords.

Paidpreparer'suse only

D24 Enter your standard deduction (see left marQin). 2425 Subtract line 24 from line 22. If line 24 is more than line 22, enter -0-. 2526 If line 22 is $117,300 or less, multiply $3,400 by the total number of exemptions

claimed on line 6d. If line 22 is over $117,300, see the worksheet on page 32. 2627 Subtract line 26 from line 25. If line 26 is more than line 25, enter -0-.

This is your taxable income. ~ 2728 Tax includina any altemative minimum tax (see oaae 30l. 2829 Credit for child and dependent care expenses.

Attach Schedule 2. 2930 Credit for the elderly or the disabled. Attach

Schedule 3. 3031 Education credits. Attach Form 8863. ~1.

32 Child tax credit (see page 35). Attach .•Form 8901 if required. 32

33 Retirement savings contributions credit. AttachForm 8880. 33Add lines 29 throu h 33. These are our total credits.Subtract line 34 from line 28. If line 34 is more than line 28, enter -0-.Advance earned income credit pa ments from Form(s} W-2, box 9.Add lines 35 and 36. This is your total tax.Federal income tax withheld from Fonns W-2 and 1099. 382007 estimated tax payments and amountapplied from 2006 return.Earned income credit EIC.Nontaxable combat a election. 40bAdditional child tax credit. Attach Form 8812.Add lines 38,39, 40a, and 41. These are our total a ments.If line 4~ is more than line 37, subtract line 37 from line 42.This is the amount you overpaid. 43Amount of line 43 you want refunded to you. If Fonn 8888 is attached, check here ~ 0 44a

Routing= .number ~ c Type: 0 Checking 0 Savings

AccountnumberAmount of line 43 you want applied to your2008 estimated tax. 45Amount you owe. Subtract line 42 from line 37. For details on howto a see a e 53.Estimated tax enalt see a e 53 ,

343536

~ 37

40ab

414243

44a

~b

Designee's Phone Personal identification ~name ~ no. ~ () number (PIN) ~~Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return and accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of myknowledge and belief. they are true. correct, and accurately list all amounts and sources of income I received during the tax year. DeclaratIOnof preparer (other than the taxpayer) is based on all information of which the preparer has any knowledge.Your signature Date Your occupation

~ ""~" _,"",_ .••• ;~ _. ''''' m"" "",. D... S",,~" =,,,,"Preparer's ~signature rFirm's name (or ~yours if self-employed),address, and ZIP code )

Form 1040A (2007)