Hang Up on War: Get a Tax Refund

[tuvor]

By Amy Goodman, King Features Syndicate. Posted April 5, 2007.

If you are upset that Congress won't defund the war in Iraq, there's something you can do: Take the IRS up on its offer for a war tax refund.

If you are upset that Congress won't defund the war in Iraq, there's something you can do: Stop paying a tax. Legally.

The Internal Revenue Service is giving a rebate this year on a telephone war tax. This is one of those line items at the bottom of your phone bill. The tax was instituted in 1898 to help the United States pay for the Spanish-American War. Individuals and businesses have one chance to obtain a refund on this telephone war tax, by asking for it in their 2006 income tax returns.

Remarkably, the Internal Revenue Service has made it easy to request the refund, yet IRS Commissioner Mark Everson says that many taxpayers are overlooking it. Obtaining the refund is easy. But first, a little history.

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/50171/

[Little Wing]

1. I think TurboTax took this out for me, at my request

but when it offered, there was no mention of 'war'

[napi21]

2. I used TaxAct and it was one of the questions.

I even told my husband howthe Feds were GIVING everyone $30! All they ask is if you had phone service between specific years. IF you say yes, you qualify! HOW THE HELL CAN ANYONE MISS THAT?

[tuvor]

3. I guess not everyone uses software to do their taxes.

If the post saves some such person 30 clams, it was worth my time.

[napi21]

4. You don't have to use software. It's an individual line item on the

return! It's line 71 on mine because I itemize, but it's right there with the other tax credits like child care etc. I'm not familiar with 1040A or 1040EZ, but I'm sure it's there too as are the other credits.

BTW, I was wrong on the amount. It's $40.00!

[prole_for_peace]

5. the refund amount is based on # of dependents.

it starts at $30 and increases. the most i have seen (i am a tax accountant) is $40 for a married filing jointly return.

[napi21]

6. OK, that's how I filed. I am just having a hard time understanding

how so many missed it.

[prole_for_peace]

7. i do taxes for a living and i didn't know about it until mid January

i don't think the govt has done a good job getting the word out. but that is probably their plan. less people claiming it means less having to be paid out.