66,000 South Floridians Fail to File for Stimulus Checks

Jul. 24, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- With Tax Day long gone and the final deadline for filing fast approaching, there are still more than 5 million Americans who have yet to put in the proper paperwork to collect their economic stimulus checks.

More than 66,000 of them live in Palm Beach and Broward counties.

"Anybody and everybody needs to file by Oct. 15," said Mike Dobzinski of the Internal Revenue Service, "and that would include many people who filed for extensions."

On Monday, the IRS began sending instructional packages to disabled veterans and Social Security recipients who are eligible to receive checks and may have difficulty since they don't typically file tax returns, officials said.

The IRS said 1.4 million Floridians were eligible for the checks on Tax Day this year and estimates that 400,000 eligible people have yet to file. Broward and Palm Beach counties were ranked second and third in the state with 38,693 and 27,477 respectively.

"I don't think it's overly shocking," said Craig Carr, a veteran's service officer with Palm Beach County Veteran Services. "Veterans can be a hard population to reach."

Low-income veterans who receive pensions or disability checks may have missed the message, Carr said. Others may know but don't know how to respond.

"They're the ones missing out on this," he said.

The stimulus checks range from $300 to $600 per person, including a payment for each child under age 17 who qualifies.

More than 10 million Americans and nearly 878,000 Floridians filed for extensions, many of whom are eligible for stimulus checks. They have until October to file.

The IRS has struck partnerships with local organizations across South Florida to help eligible people file returns so they can claim their checks.

The United Way of Palm Beach County is offering a one-day tax-filing event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Mid-County Senior Center in Lake Worth. Eight IRS-trained volunteers of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program will be on-hand and anticipate helping more than 100 people.

United Way spokeswoman Dianne Laubert said those interested in getting help filing their federal income tax returns should bring their Social Security or veterans benefits statement, any documentation of interest income, photo ID and banking or routing number.

The Broward County Coalition will host three events in August in areas chosen for a high concentration of eligible people, senior tax consultant Gus Lilavois said.

"If somebody's on Social Security and they haven't filed in seven, eight, 10 years, and they're suddenly asked to file, they may not remember how to file a return," Lilavois said.

Khari Johnson can be reached at or 561-243-6690.