For Immediate Release
Date: March 7, 2008
Contact: David Griffith
Phone: (573) 751-8222

Federal Stimulus Payments May Benefit Non-Tax Filers

JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Department of Revenue (Department) announced today that Missourians who may be required to file a federal return to take advantage of the Federal Stimulus Payments will not be required to file a Missouri return.

Many Missourians, who are not required to file a federal or state tax return, may still be entitled to an economic stimulus payment from the federal government. In order to be qualified for the program, the taxpayer must submit a federal return for the 2007 tax year, even if they would not normally be required to file a return. Those Missourians may now use the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Free File program to assist them in filing federal returns for 2007.

The IRS and several of its partners in the Free File Alliance can now accept returns submitted by people who have no legal requirement to file other than to receive their payments.  People in this category should only use those companies listed on the Free File-Economic Stimulus Payment link on the IRS web site. There are also some additional requirements which are explained on the IRS web site.

The checks from the Federal Stimulus Payment will not be taxable on next years return.  This rebate will not qualify as income and would therefore not be taxed by the state of Missouri in 2009.  For more information Missourians can go to www.irs.gov.

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