Nearly 64,000 elderly and disabled Coloradans — more than 15,000 of them in Denver — have not applied for the federal government’s tax-rebate check, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
Nationally, more than 5.2 million retired or disabled Americans who might qualify for the rebate check have not applied, roughly a quarter of the total, the IRS said Thursday.
Denver ranked 24th among the nation’s top 100 cities for the number of qualifying retirees and disabled vets who have not claimed the rebate. Colorado Springs ranked second in the state and 75th nationally.
Typically, this group doesn’t file a tax return on their tax- free federal benefits. But they can obtain the rebate — up to $600 for an individual — only by filing a tax return.
“This summer, we are going the extra mile to help the remaining retirees and disabled veterans get their payments,” IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said.
Shulman said many of those who have not filed for the rebate are worried that the money will either affect their federal benefits or incur a tax liability.
The rebate is tax-free and does not figure into any benefits formula, Shulman said.
The IRS identified potential payees via the Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs.
Each will receive an IRS letter this summer explaining eligibility for the rebate and how to claim it. The deadline for filing a return is Oct. 15.
The agency has issued 75.6 million rebates worth $63.8 billion based on 2007 tax returns. Another 124 million payments, most of them in the form of paper checks, are to be processed by the end of the year.
The IRS will send a sample tax form explaining how it should be completed in order to get the rebate check.
David Migoya: 303-954-1506 or dmigoya@denverpost.com
5 cities home to many nonfilers
Nearly 64,000 disabled and retired Colora dans have not filed for their piece of the federal government’s rebate.
Here are the top five cities where they are located:
City Number unclaimed
Denver 15,246
Colorado Springs 6,222
Aurora 3,783
Pueblo 3,367
Littleton 2,529
Statewide 63,693
Source: IRS
