Dear Citzens:
For those of you who have not yet filed to claim a federal stimulus check, you have some extra time. The Internal Revenue Service has told me that it will continue to process requests for rebates after today, October 15, which the agency had originally set as its deadline to apply.
The tax-free rebates, starting at $300, were sent automatically to eligible Americans who filed a federal income tax return for 2007. However, many Social Security and VA beneficiaries do not normally file a tax return, and so they must file separate paperwork this year to receive a rebate.
As of September, nearly 18,000 Rhode Islanders had not yet filed to receive the rebate, many of them seniors and veterans with disabilities. Stimulus checks yet to be claimed by Rhode Islanders could amount to as much as $5.4 million.
Out of concern that time was time was running short for these people, I wrote Douglas Shulman, Commissioner of the IRS, last Friday asking that the deadline be extended. Today, the IRS let me know that it will still accept paperwork after today, though the agency encouraged people to file promptly.
If you are eligible for a rebate but have not yet filed for one, I urge you to do so as soon as possible in order to get this assistance before the end of the year. You can download copies of the necessary forms at www.irs.gov, or stop by the IRS�s local offices at 380 Westminster Street, Providence, or 60 Quaker Lane, Warwick, to get paperwork and preparation assistance (no appointment is needed). The offices are open from 8:30 am � 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. You can also call 2-1-1 (the United Way�s information service), AARP�sRhode Island office at 1-866-542-8170 (toll-free), or your local senior center for more information.
In these difficult times, every little bit helps. I hope you�ll take advantage of this rebate if you haven�t already. If you need any further assistance, please don�t hesitate to call my office at (401) 453-5294 or contact me via e-mail at http://whitehouse.senate.gov/contact.
Sincerely,
Sheldon
