By Trevor Anderson

Mar. 26, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
The Internal Revenue Service will open 320 of its offices on Saturday to help low-income people, including some retirees and veterans, get checks from the economic stimulus act passed by Congress in January.

The tax agency said community and advocacy groups such as the AARP and the United Way of America will also make special efforts on "Super Saturday" to ensure people who don't ordinarily file tax returns don't miss out on the payment.

IRS locations in the state that will be open Saturday are in Greenville, Easley, Charleston, Columbia, Myrtle Beach and Manning.

"We don't want any Americans to miss out on their economic stimulus payment," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman in a statement. "Super Saturday is one way the IRS and its partners are working to ensure everyone eligible receives a stimulus payment."

Under the stimulus act, people are eligible to receive as much as $600, with married couples getting up to $1,200.

Many households also can get an additional $300 for each qualifying child younger than 17.

But people must file a tax return to receive the payment, which has raised concerns that those who don't usually need to file will be overlooked.

Dan Thomas, regional vice president for Jackson Hewitt tax service (NYSE:JTX) , said he believes Super Saturday will help the IRS and other tax firms round up the stragglers who are eligible to receive stimulus checks, but haven't filed.

"We've been absolutely inundated with phone calls from people who want more information," Thomas said. "I think it's a great thing. This year, we need all the help we can get."

The IRS said this week it is mailing out packages to 20.5 million Social Security and veterans benefits recipients with information on filing a return. The offices open on Saturday will also assist this group in preparing the special Form 1040A.

IRS field officers will also visit nursing homes and similar locations to prepare returns. To qualify, people must have at least $3,000 in earned income and certain benefits from Social Security, Veterans Affairs or Railroad Retirement.

The IRS said it will deliver 130 million checks to consumers between May 2 and July 11 based on the last two digits of the recipient's Social Security number.

As a significant number of the payments are expected to be made by direct deposit, the service estimates more than a fourth of those 130 million payments will be made in the first three weeks of the delivery period.

Direct deposit payments will be made May 2 to recipients whose Social Security numbers end in 00-20. Direct deposit payments will be made a week later, May 9, to people whose numbers end in 21-75. The final round of direct deposit payments will be made May 16 to people whose numbers end in 76-99.

Taxpayers and others who are receiving paper checks are on a longer schedule.

Checks will be mailed May 16 to those whose numbers end in 00-09. A second round of checks will be mailed May 23 to those whose numbers end in 10-18. A May 30 mailing will be made to people whose numbers end in 19-25.

Subsequent mailings will be made June 6 to those whose numbers end in 26-38; June 13 to numbers 39-51; June 20 to numbers 52-63; June 27 to numbers 64-75; July 4 to numbers 76-87 and July 11 to those whose numbers end in 88-99.

For information visit www.irs.gov.



Newstex ID: KRTB-0183-24044075