Rebate for senior/filing question?

missy · Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 2

Hello, I posted here before and got some helpful advice, and here I am
again...

Okay, here's the weird situation, My Mother is on SS and that is all
she recieves for income, so she has not filed a tax return for some
time now, but she does want to file this year (like all seniors) to
get the rebate...in her case it will only be 300.00 but she needs it!!
anyhow, the problem is ''how to file'' ??
I did some investigating myself and found a form online...it is called
a 1040A (I think) anyhow, my Mother and Father are not divorced BUT
have been living apart for years, (like 25) he never divorced her
because of health insurance ...etc. etc..when I went to fill out this
form for my Mom, I was going to file her ''single'' but later found
out that I can not file her single because she is legally married..
( we are in PA)...so I figured she could file ''married, filing
separated'' and that IS the case, BUT, it asks for the spouses full
name and SSN...and here is the big problem, My Father will _not_, now
way now how give his SSN out to anyone....

Is there anything at all she can do?
I dont know why he is the way he is, maybe that is why they have lived
apart, idk,,,,but I don't want to even know why he refuses to give his
number to her but if there is anything at all she can do, I hate to
see her lose this money, but my Father giving up his SSN is not going
to happen....

He does not file an income tax either and he said that he wont this
year either, he said that he filed all his life and he is done! but
what about my Mom..;(

I feel so bad for her because she was the first one to tell everyone
about this....and I hate for her not to get a check...if she doesnt
get one I will share mine with her...but is there anything my Mom can
do to get her own?

PS. NO, My Mom is not retarded, it's just that we live in the same
home and I usually do anything like this....then I come here to ask
for help...LOL...

Thanks for any advice....

Oh the kicker is that my EX husband is a Freaking CPA and I cant ask
him anything, because we are not on good terms right
now...grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Messy Missy In PA.

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Archived from group: misc>taxes>moderated

Phil Marti · Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 2520

"missy" wrote:

> Okay, here's the weird situation, My Mother is on SS and that is all
> she recieves for income, so she has not filed a tax return for some
> time now, but she does want to file this year (like all seniors) to
> get the rebate...in her case it will only be 300.00 but she needs it!!
> anyhow, the problem is ''how to file'' ??
> I did some investigating myself and found a form online...it is called
> a 1040A (I think) anyhow, my Mother and Father are not divorced BUT
> have been living apart for years, (like 25) he never divorced her
> because of health insurance ...etc. etc..when I went to fill out this
> form for my Mom, I was going to file her ''single'' but later found
> out that I can not file her single because she is legally married..
> ( we are in PA)...so I figured she could file ''married, filing
> separated'' and that IS the case, BUT, it asks for the spouses full
> name and SSN...and here is the big problem, My Father will _not_, now
> way now how give his SSN out to anyone

Just file showing his name and "unknown" for the SSN. It's not the first
time.

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Phil Marti
Clarksburg, MD

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Harlan Lunsford · Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 790

missy wrote:
> Hello, I posted here before and got some helpful advice, and here I am
> again...
>
> Okay, here's the weird situation, My Mother is on SS and that is all
> she recieves for income, so she has not filed a tax return for some
> time now, but she does want to file this year (like all seniors) to
> get the rebate...in her case it will only be 300.00 but she needs it!!
> anyhow, the problem is ''how to file'' ??

balance snipped.....

For an example of the 1040A form to be filed just for this purpose, see:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/1040a.pdf

All that's needed besides name, address, and social security number
(signature of course!) is the entry on line 14A. No totals;
no subtotals. IRS will do the rest.

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

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missy · Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 2

On Feb 21, 5:29�pm, Harlan Lunsford wrote:
> missy wrote:
> > Hello, I posted here before and got some helpful advice, and here I am
> > again...
>
> > Okay, here's the weird situation, My Mother is on SS and that is all
> > she recieves for income, so she has not filed a tax return for some
> > time now, but she does want to file this year (like all seniors) to
> > get the rebate...in her case it will only be 300.00 but she needs it!!
> > anyhow, the problem is ''how to file'' ??
>
> balance snipped.....
>
> For an example of the 1040A form to be filed just for this purpose, see:
>
> http://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/1040a.pdf
>
> All that's needed besides name, address, and social security number
> (signature of course!) �is the entry on line 14A. �No totals;
> no subtotals. �IRS will do the rest.
>
> ChEAr$,
> Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA
>
> --
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >

Thanks so much, now the dumb question...what is the address?

Thanks.. Wink

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Harlan Lunsford · Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 790

missy wrote:
>
> Thanks so much, now the dumb question...what is the address?
>
> Thanks.. Wink

>
I didn't think of that! (grin)

But you would send it to the service center designated for the area in
which you live. You may need to check IRS web site for it. Down South
heah, we use the Atlanta address. Goto www.irs.gov and in search box
top right type in "1040 filing address".

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

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D. Stussy · Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 126

"missy" wrote in message@t66g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Hello, I posted here before and got some helpful advice, and here I am
> again...
>
> Okay, here's the weird situation, My Mother is on SS and that is all
> she recieves for income, so she has not filed a tax return for some
> time now, .... ..., My Father will _not_, now
> way now how give his SSN out to anyone....

Why doesn't she have it from the last time she did file?

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Mark Bole · Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 327

Phil Marti wrote:
> "missy" wrote:
>
>[...] BUT, it asks for the spouses full
>> name and SSN...and here is the big problem, My Father will _not_, now
>> way now how give his SSN out to anyone
>
> Just file showing his name and "unknown" for the SSN. It's not the first
> time.

Technically there is a $50 penalty for failure to provide the required
SSN, perhaps it would not be imposed in this case.

-Mark Bole

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Mark Bole · Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 327

D. Stussy wrote:
> "missy" wrote in message
> @t66g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>> Hello, I posted here before and got some helpful advice, and here I am
>> again...
>>
>> Okay, here's the weird situation, My Mother is on SS and that is all
>> she recieves for income, so she has not filed a tax return for some
>> time now, .... ..., My Father will _not_, now
>> way now how give his SSN out to anyone....
>
> Why doesn't she have it from the last time she did file?
>

If they ever filed jointly, a Form 4506 can be used to request a copy of
the original return from the IRS (the fee is refunded if the return
cannot be obtained). Only one spouse is needed to sign this form.

She might be eligible for higher Soc Security benefits based on her
husband's earnings record if she becomes an ex-spouse.

It may be better to resolve any outstanding issues now before it becomes
a matter of probate down the road.

-Mark Bole

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Harlan Lunsford · Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 790

D. Stussy wrote:
> "missy" wrote in message
> @t66g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>> Hello, I posted here before and got some helpful advice, and here I am
>> again...
>>
>> Okay, here's the weird situation, My Mother is on SS and that is all
>> she recieves for income, so she has not filed a tax return for some
>> time now, .... ..., My Father will _not_, now
>> way now how give his SSN out to anyone....
>
> Why doesn't she have it from the last time she did file?
>
Because not everybody, even including some of our own clients, don't
keep copies of past tax returns. Surprised?

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

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John D. Goulden · Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 43

> ... anyhow, my Mother and Father are not divorced BUT
> have been living apart for years, (like 25) he never divorced her
> because of health insurance ...etc. etc..when I went to fill out this
> form for my Mom, I was going to file her ''single'' but later found
> out that I can not file her single because she is legally married..
> ( we are in PA)...so I figured she could file ''married, filing
> separated'' and that IS the case, BUT, it asks for the spouses full
> name and SSN...and here is the big problem, My Father will _not_, now
> way now how give his SSN out to anyone....

No one has mentioned this, so I'll throw in 'married but unmarried for tax
purposes.' The requirements are: married, did not live with the spouse at
any time during the last six months of the year and did not file a joint
return with the spouse, paid more than half of the cost of maintaining the
home, and lived with at least one dependent child for more than half the
year. I gather from your post that your mom has no dependent children, so
she fails that final test and she's pretty much stuck with MFS. But as other
posters have said, not knowing Dad's SSN is not a big deal.

--
John D. Goulden

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