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Hundreds Of Thousands Due Tax Rebate Checks

Many Who Did Not File Tax Returns Still Eligible

POSTED: 8:05 am EDT September 14, 2008
UPDATED: 8:29 am EDT September 14, 2008

Nearly 150,000 Massachusetts residents, most over 65, are still due their federal economic stimulus refund checks and have just a month left to claim the money, the Boston Herald reported Sunday.

“Because we’re heading into a horribly hard winter, this $300 for each household obviously would be very helpful,” John Drew, vice president of Action for Boston Community Development, told the newspaper.

The tax preparer H&R Block estimated that 149,711 people in Massachusetts have not filed for their stimulus check, including 100,293 over age 65.

“We go through all the senior houses, Meals on Wheels, anyone who has contact with these folks,” Drew said of ABCD’s efforts to track down eligible recipients.

Most Massachusetts residents received rebate checks of at least $300 after filing their taxes this year. But many who don’t file are also eligible and Oct. 15 is the final date for filing.

Anyone who had a minimum of $3,000 in qualifying income -- including wages, Social Security Retirement and Disability income and veteran’s benefits -- is eligible for a check of $300 for an individual or $600 for a couple.

To receive a rebate, those eligible need only file a one-page 1040 A form, Drew told the Herald.

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