Wow! I really blew it.

[balantz]

I work at the house me and my kid live in for rent and he and I have government health and food stamps. I occasionally make a few bucks under the table for clothes and stuff here and there doing some odd jobs by taking the bus.

I wasn't paying attention and didn't even consider that I could get some of that rebate money. It didn't help that someone had said I had to pay income taxes during the year to get it. Since I had no real taxable income I didn't think I was eligible. We are indeed very low income.

Today someone told me they got money even though they paid no taxes. Is this true? If so, I will really kick myself. $300 would have seen us through the summer quite well. Does anyone know the details about this? And if it's true, is there any way for me to get my share of burden money?

Thanks in advance! A.

[Jed Dilligan]

1. I don't think it's something you have to officially apply for

but I may be wrong. If you filed taxes in 2007, don't they just automatically send you the check? If not, I guess I blew it too.

[balantz]

2. I was living outside for a few years and haven't paid taxes for quite some time.

Automatic would be just dandy for me. But I won't count on that.

[Jed Dilligan]

4. Would be interested to find out.

Maybe post this over in GD for more eyes?

[Horse with no Name]

3. I think you had to earn $3000 in order to qualify

I'm guessing it is not too late to file your taxes (since you don't owe anything there shouldn't be a penalty).
Good luck!

[balantz]

6. I didn't make even near $3,000.

And what very little cash I made was under the table.

I worked directly for our rent and that is about $600 a month. So that is more than $3000 a year. But I have no idea how I should pay taxes on a labor exchange like that. It never crossed my mind.

[Orrex]

11. I don't have the specifics, but...

There are free tax advisory programs and filing assistance for low income filers. A former coworker used to volunteer at such a program, and he worked with a great number of people whose annual income was far below the poverty line.

A good place to start looking might be your local foodstamps/assistance office--they should be able to direct you to a service, if such exists.

At the very least, you'd find out if you qualify for anything. For instance, work-in-exchange-for-rent might qualify as income, for purposes of a refund. Even with very low income, you might still be eligible for a refund if your son is a minor.

I'm sorry I don't have more information for you. Please contact your local agency to see if they can help you and your son!

[balantz]

13. I will. I'll go to the economic security office and ask about this, Thanks! n/t

[Horse with no Name]

14. You would have to have your employer give you a tax form for that money

That would be $7200. If you had two dependents and you filed head of household, that would be a standard deduction of $7850.
Since your deduction is more than you made...you would get money back.
IF your child is under 18, then you would also get to file an EIC (earned income credit) which could also give you some money back.
It would also qualify you for the rebate.
HOWEVER, if your employer resists...I would back off because that roof over your head is pretty important.
You can go to www.irs.gov

Then find the "Free File" and click on Turbo Tax. It will figure out exactly what you will get back based on $7200.
You don't have to file at that point...just don't save your info until you are ready to file (if at all).

Good luck!

[balantz]

16. Thank you. n/t

[grasswire]

5. yes, you can get it if you want to file a tax return.

And if you don't have enough income to tax even if you disclose what you get, you shouldn't worry about back years, should you? If you have a dependent child, I think you might get an extra $300, too. You can file any time before October and be eligible. Dunno how long it will take to get the $, though.

[balantz]

7. Oh cool! I can still file? I owe the feds from about 13 years ago.

I owe about $6,000. I hope that doesn't make me ineligible. I guess I'll have to file and find out. I wonder how I claim my income? I have no W2's.

[grasswire]

12. wait. if you owe back taxes, you prolly won't get any.

That's my understanding. Old student loans and back taxes disqualify.

Sorry.

[balantz]

15. Oh.

Yeah, that's probably so. I lost a job in the nineties and owed them money. Then I degraded to homelessness (and etc,).

But now I have my kid with me and we are surviving, so things are better.

[grasswire]

17. you know, you might want to talk to someone about ...

...the whole thing. Any potential refund you might have gotten in any year could have been applied to your old tax bill to pay it down. And in the years when you had a child with you, if you qualified for "earned income credit" you might actually have gotten refunds. Earned income credit is a way of getting money to parents who fall within low or modest income parameters.

Or you can save yourself the hassle of trying to figure all that out after all this time, and just stay out of the system. And I sure can understand the value of that freedom.

[balantz]

19. My kid is ten.

He has been with me three years now. Middle School starts next year. He's a great kid, though he has a bit of an attitude (I understand why).

I don't even know where or how to begin anymore. I am a 46 y.o. white laborer with a bad back, knees and elbow. I never got the proper diagnosis and follow through for disability. I'm getting too old to push wheelbarrows and dig trenches all day, but I still do it when I must or can fit it in now and then. I do have some carpentry and painting skills. I am grateful to be able to pay for rent here like this by bartering my labor. I keep thinking when my youngster makes it on his own I might just go out again and find a tree (to live under). I know that sounds absurd, but it crosses my mind sometimes. The good thing is I quit the substance abuse some time ago and meditate and stuff now. Things are better.

There! That's my sob story. Ha ha ha ha ha! I have to laugh at this life!

[Kali]

21. 10 year statute of limitations on taxes - don't even mention it

your income may be too low for the refund but do as suggested above and go to the irs site and play around with the free turbot tax program - don't fall for upgrades that cost money, the free one will get you all the info you need, then you can see if you are eligible for the "stimulus" or anything else.

good luck.

[KSinTX]

8. Check here for details

http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=180250,00.html

HTH :hi:

[balantz]

9. Thank you!

I'll check that out. :hi:

[balantz]

10. Hey, you guys are great!

I'll have to come here more often and chat with y'all.

I will look into this and check back here. Thanks for all the helpful input!

:yourock:

[Petrushka]

18. If I'm not mistaken, you have until June 15th to file --- use 1040A

Be sure to write "Stimulus Payment" across the top.

[balantz]

20. Cool! Thanks! n/t