With the tax-filing deadline April 15, public officials in Rhode Island are urging elderly people and military veterans who might not normally file a tax return to do so in order to get a rebate from the federal government.

Governor Carcieri will visit the Rhode Island Veterans Home, in Bristol, today to highlight the requirements of the rebate program.

“Even if seniors do not owe any tax or their earnings are not subject to tax,” Carcieri said, “they may receive an economic stimulus payment of at least $300 this year. But to collect that federal payment, they must submit a tax return.”

The rebate program, approved Feb. 8 by Congress, is designed to put money into consumers’ hands to boost the economy. The rebates will be sent out automatically by the U.S. Treasury after taxpayers file their tax returns. Taxpayers do not need to do anything further, since their eligibility for an economic stimulus payment and the amount will be calculated by the Internal Revenue Service.

Some people whose earnings are not taxed will be eligible to receive the payment. These eligible recipients include people who receive Social Security benefits, certain veterans’ or railroad pension benefits that are not taxed, and some low income workers, all of whom would not normally file income tax returns. The U.S. Treasury is making every effort to get the word out to these people to file returns anyway because they may receive at least a $300 payment.

Rep. Jim Langevin yesterday encouraged constituents to take part in the Internal Revenue Service’s Super Saturday program, an effort to reach those Rhode Islanders who are eligible for the economic stimulus payment, but who normally are not required to file income tax returns.

The IRS this week is mailing 20.5 million Social Security and Veterans Affairs recipients a Package 1040A-3 that contains all the information they need to file immediately. Railroad Retirement recipients, low-income individuals and military personnel with nontaxable combat pay also can use the package if they need to file solely to get the payment.

On Saturday, there will be eight locations throughout Rhode Island for people to receive help filing Form 1040A, the one needed for people who are filing solely to receive their stimulus payments. A list of IRS offices and partner sites providing assistance on Super Saturday is available at www.irs.gov or by calling the IRS Hot Line, (800) 906-9887. If taxpayers have questions about the rebate program, they can call (866) 234-2942 on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.