If You Didn't Get Rebate Check Yet, There's Still Time To File

Crowley urges all eligible seniors and veterans not to miss out on the rebate available to them.

Would you believe that although gasoline and other prices are out of sight, and jobs are scarce, there are still more than 200,000 New York City residents who have not applied for the federal rebate of $600 or more?

Nationwide, at least $60 million in economic stimulus checks has gone uncollected, said officials of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), who joined with congressmembers Joseph Crowley and Jose Serrano at a press conference last Sunday that was designed to get out the word about the uncollected millions waiting to be claimed.

Crowley declared, "Times are tough right now. That is why Congress enacted the economic stimulus package, to provide hard-working Americans with muchneeded financial relief."

The lawmaker noted, "Millions of Americans have received their federal rebate check, but more than 400,000 New Yorkers have not. We want to make sure everyone gets their money. I hope others will join me and Congressman Serrano in getting the word out to all New Yorkers that they only have 87 days left to file with the IRS for their tax-free money."

Crowley (D- Queens/The Bronx) and Serrano (D- The Bronx) hosted the press conference at City Hall with Richard Byrd, commissioner of the Wage and Investment Division of the IRS. Together they unveiled a new national outreach effort by the IRS. The purpose is to notify every eligible veteran and senior citizen in the United States that they must file a 1040A form with the IRS if they haven't already done so in order to get a stimulus rebate check worth up to $600.

The new deadline to collect the check is October 15, the lawmakers and tax officials emphasized. The IRS will send mailings to all households spelling out instructions on how and what to file.

Crowley cautioned, "Don't throw [the mailing] out" when it comes. For a change, he quipped, "This is good news from the IRS."

Crowley pointed out that while most Americans got their rebate checks by filing a 2007 federal tax return, millions of low-income workers, the disabled and Social Security beneficiaries, who normally do not file a tax return, must file Special Form 1040A with the IRS to get the rebate.

Byrd emphasized: "It's not too late. We want every taxpayer and retiree eligible to receive the economic stimulus payment to get it. Just complete and mail Form 1040A by october 15. You can find additional information on our Web site, IRS.gov, or come see us at the closest Taxpayer Assistance Center if you need help with the form."