IDAHO INCOME TAX RETURN NOT NEEDED FOR FEDERAL STIMULUS PAYMENT

BOISE, IDAHO — Feb. 22, 2008 — Taxpayers who file a federal income tax return just to get the federal economic stimulus payment don't need to file an Idaho return unless they meet Idaho's filing requirements, announced the Idaho State Tax Commission.

To receive the payment offered by the federal government, eligible taxpayers must file a 2007 federal income tax return. Even individuals who aren't required to file a federal return but who are eligible for the stimulus payment will need to file a federal return this year to get the payment. However, these individuals won't need to file an Idaho return if they don't meet Idaho's filing requirements. But the Tax Commission still encourages them to file for an Idaho grocery credit refund if they qualify.

"We don't want to create extra work for taxpayers who are only filing a federal return to get their economic stimulus payment," said Debbie Carrell, Taxpayer Services manager for the Tax Commission. "We also want Idahoans to know that the payment comes from the federal government, not Idaho, and there is no similar state payment."

To see who is required to file an Idaho return, go to the Tax Commission Web site at tax.idaho.gov (click on "FAQs," then "Individual Income Tax," then "IIT-5").

BACK TO MAIN NEWS RELEASE PAGE