Riley, a spokeswoman for the IRS, said that agency got a list of potentially eligible seniors from the Social Security Administration and sent letters, including a sample 1040A form, to them in the spring.
But people who received more than $3,000 in qualifying income who don't usually file a return have to file a 1040A form in order to get the stimulus check.
The package contains instructions and the
1040A form needed to file and send back to the IRS before October 15th.
To get it, you have to file a 1040 or
1040A form, along with some special eligibility forms.
The simplified,
1040A form is meant for those who had at least $3,000 in earned income in 2007, but who would not otherwise be required to file a return.
In an effort to reach them, the IRS will be sending out an "Economic Stimulus Payment Notice" that includes instructions and the
1040A form that they will have to file and send back to the IRS before October 15th, 2008.
Additionally, CCH CompleteTax automatically allows filers of the
1040A form and claiming only the child- and dependent-care credit - one of the forms the IRS will be delayed in processing - to use Form 1040 so that they can e-file immediately.
One simplification should aim to enable more of the 100 million simple filers (people with only wages and interest income) to file scannable 1040EZ and
1040A forms.