Robert E. Barr, assistant commissioner of the Electronic Tax Administration (ETA) for the IRS, designated Peoples a “Special Friend of ETA.” Barr presented Peoples Income Tax founder and chief executive officer Charles E. McCabe with an award in Washington last month. Peoples was one of only two organizations nationally to receive the designation.

In 1998 Peoples acquired the national trade newsletter, “E-Filing Today,” and became its publisher. Barr commended Peoples on its “dedication, consistency and excellence,” in using the publication to keep electronic return originators informed and up-to-date on the industry’s latest news and information.

Earlier this year, Peoples was named an IRS marketing partner. The Web site of “E-Filing Today,” www.eftoday.com, is linked to the IRS Web site, www.irs.gov.

Peoples Income Tax was established in 1987 to provide income tax preparation and small business accounting services. Peoples operates 23 offices in Richmond, Petersburg, Charlottesville and Fredericksburg, Virginia. “E-Filing Today” and The Income Tax School are divisions of Peoples Income Tax.

Chuck McCabe, chief executive officer of Peoples Income Tax, said, “It is fitting and we are honored to have been recognized with this award because it represents a commitment to the same principle on which our company was founded: People.”

An outside panel of judges evaluates Torch award nominees on ethical behavior in several areas. These include the company’s relationships with customers, employees and suppliers; sales and marketing; community service; and programs that support employees in carrying out established ethics policies. “A Torch company does things right and honestly,” said Thomas Gallagher, president of the Better Business Bureau, “and they do it even if no one is watching because that’s their corporate culture.”

For McCabe, an important tenet of marketplace integrity is the willingness to see profit as the byproduct, not the purpose of a business. “Social contribution is the reason for a good business to exist,” he says. Among other outreach, for the fifth consecutive tax season, Peoples will provide free and discounted tax returns to recipients of the Greater Richmond Employment Assistance Team (GREAT). Peoples associates also provide free income tax return service to residents of area homeless shelters and the Flagler Home, a shelter for women and children at St. Joseph’s Villa.

Once a high school drop-out, McCabe founded Peoples Income Tax in 1987, after a 20-year career with H & R Block. Peoples provides income tax preparation and small business accounting services through more than a dozen offices in Richmond, Colonial Heights and Fredericksburg. The industry trade publication “E-Filing Today” and The Income Tax School are divisions of Peoples Income Tax.

Editor’s Note: Four Torch awards are given annually based on company size. Temporary staffing companies Interim Personnel of Richmond Inc. and Judith Fox Staffing Cos., along with public relations firm Carter Ryley Thomas Inc. also received the BBB’s recognition for ethical business practices.

By Tracy Wainwright
Times Dispatch Staff Writer

Four Richmond companies took home the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Integrity for 1999.

Interim Personnel of Richmond Inc., Judith Fox Staffing Cos., Carter Ryley Thomas Inc. and Peoples Income Tax Inc. received the BBB’s recognition for ethical business practices during a luncheon yesterday at the Holiday Inn Select/Koger South.

The two temporary-staffing companies, the public relations firm and the income-tax business exemplified the BBB’s values of commitment to high standards of behavior, said Tom Gallagher, the bureau’s president.

“A Torch company does things right and honestly,” Gallagher said, “ and they do it even if no one is watching because that’s their corporate culture.”

Each of the four awards honors a company of a certain employee size.

The for-profit competitors submit evidence of their good deeds. Judges review the submissions for demonstrations of ethical standards. Companies winning the Torch Award use ethics policies and training programs have a positive marketplace reputation and extend their values into the community.

For instance, Interim Personnel employees offer time to the Greater Richmond Employment Assistance Team Program and the Salvation Army, in addition to making donations.

“ In our overall business attitude, we not only are involved in providing temporary help to businesses,” said Interim Personnel owner and President Dennis Galligan. “ We take along with that how to be a good citizen and help the area around our businesses,”

Peoples Income Tax President Check McCabe said, “ The award is about being committed to the concerns of people and meeting their needs. It’s about contributing to the community, and encouraging and empowering employees to do it as well.”

His employees will soon have paid time off to participate in community service.

The employee-owned Carter Ryley Thomas works by a set of values to reach its vision of a leading company of character and integrity. Shared values said President and Chief Executive Mark Raper, guide the company’s decisions.

“I really can’t think of a higher compliment to a company than the Torch Award,” Raper said. “Typically PR firms are known as spin doctors and anything but integrity. The award captures the essence of the people here.”

Ensuring that customers receive a high standard of service, said Judith Fox President Susan Durnwirth, starts with employees.

“First it’s important to hire employees with integrity in order to build a culture and collective team of people who value the same things and behaviors, “ Durnwirth said. “ You then demonstrate the values and treat people fairy internally, so they’ll do the same externally.”

Businesses need to remember that their employees and clients are reflection of the values of the company, Durnwirth advised.

“Challenge yourself everyday to make tough decisions about who to bring in and not to bring in,” Durnwirth said, “ and the appropriate client companies to work with that complement your philosophy in ways of doing business.”

Each of the presidents of Torch-winning companies said that their employees allowed the businesses to earn the integrity award.

“I look at it as our whole company’s award,” said Galligan of Interim Personnel. “ The employees have the philosophy, and I just allow them to spread their wings and do it.”

MCLEAN, VA - The Council of Growing Companies, an international association of entrepreneurial CEOs, has named Charles McCabe, President and Founder, People’s Income Tax, Inc., the inaugural recipient of its Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year award. McCabe, beat out dozens of entrepreneurs through his innovation and rapid rise to success.

The Council of Growing Companies is an international business organization for entrepreneurial CEOs of growing and middle-market companies the fastest-growing sector of the nation’s economy. Council members represent the spectrum of industries and disciplines, and share a common desire to grow their companies by leveraging the knowledge of their peers in unique and exclusive knowledge networks.

People’s Income Tax, Inc., founded in 1987, has shown steady growth, credibility and savvy under McCabe. It was ranked among Richmond, Virginia’s “Rising 25” fastest growing privately held firms from 1993 – 1996, and in 1994 was named a Blue Chip Enterprise by the U. S. Chamber of Commerce. Peoples delivers value and meets the needs of each client, by segmenting its broad client base and providing each client segment with appropriate levels of office atmosphere, knowledge, and sophistication at affordable prices-backed by a money-back pledge.

This award recognizes entrepreneurs from companies with less than $3 million in annual revenues who demonstrate the highest potential for growth – including strategic plan, management team, vision and finance. As the first winners of this honor, McCabe is on the fast track to success and continued growth, and will be mentored by senior members of The Council at events, educational sessions and roundtables.

“We at The Council are in the business of helping CEOs grow their businesses,” said Council of Growing Companies President Robert Morgan, CAE. “We understand the tremendous personal risks entrepreneurs take to achieve their piece of the American dream, and that only by connecting them with other CEOs to provide practical experience and useful knowledge, can they succeed.”

McCabe received his award in an awards ceremony during The Council’s National CEO-to-CEO Conference February 25th at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Tucson, AZ. The Council’s annual, invitation-only conference brought together more than 150 top decision-makers that are reinventing business to address growth challenges in face-to-face encounters. During the 3-day conference, other awards were presented in several categories including: “Creative Use of Technology,” and the “Bootstrap Award.”

For more information on the Council of Growing Companies, awards, or the National CEO-to-CEO Conference, contact The Council’s Eric A. Dyson at 703.893.5343, ext. 269 or visit www.ceolink.org.

# # # #

Founded in 1987, The Council of Growing Companies is comprised of entrepreneurial CEOs who lead successful high-growth companies. Members benefit from high-quality education programs, monthly peer-to-peer networking and public policy representation at the state and national levels. With 20 chapters in the United States and Australia, The Council collectively represents a total of 776,000 employees and more than $57 billion in annual revenues in a broad range of industries.

ETAAC is in place to support the development and implementation of the IRS’s strategy for its Electronic Tax Administration to meet goals established by Congress. The IRS’s aim, according to its Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, is for 80 percent of all tax and information returns to be filed electronically by 2007. The interim goal is that by 2003, all returns that are prepared electronically be filed electronically whenever possible.

Membership on the ETAAC requires expertise in electronic tax administration, a personal commitment of approximately 100 hours per year and a desire to help shape the Electronic Tax Administration system. ETAAC members serve a two-year term and are not paid for their services.

“Each year, more and more taxpayers are discovering the benefits of electronic filing: faster refunds, more accurate returns and quick confirmation of filing. I’m enthusiastic to have the opportunity to further promote e-filing and work with a committee of talented professionals that are equally dedicated to creating improvement through technology for all taxpayers,” McCabe said.

ETAAC named seven other professionals from throughout the United States and United Kingdom that represent various tax-related groups, including software developers, technology providers and academics.

McCabe’s long-time participation in and support of the IRS e-filing program secured his selection. Peoples Income Tax was one of three firms in central Virginia to participate in the e-filing program the first year it was available, in 1988, for tax year 1987. McCabe noted that Peoples’ 15 tax preparation offices have already exceeded the IRS goal for 2007 by filing 83 percent of their 9,749 returns electronically in 2000.

McCabe’s designation to the ETAAC is the latest in a long string of professional milestones since Peoples was established in 1987 (see attached). Peoples Income Tax provides income tax preparation and small business accounting services throughout the Greater Richmond area. Peoples Financial Services, The Income Tax School, RefundMax Income Tax and E-Filing TODAY are divisions of Peoples Income Tax.

By: McGregor McCance

Small business-Engine of the traditional U.S. economy-is becoming more of a force in the new Internet economy.

The past 12 months have seen a surge in small business Internet use, and explosive 150 percent increase, says the Kelsey Group (www.kelseygroup.com), a consulting and research firm. Its results came from a survey of 600 businesses with fewer than 100 employees.

And with more businesses reporting gains in revenue, productivity and exposure through e-commerce and e-business efforts, more small-business owners are considering their Internet options.

“Aren’t you”

“I know in our industry and most other industries the Internet is going to have a major impact. If we’re not there on the cutting edge, we risk going out of business in the future,” said Chuck McCabe, founder and president of Richmond-based Peoples Income Tax (www.peoplestax.com).

Peoples opened in 1987 as a tax preparation and small-business accounting service. It quickly became a proponent in the IRS’ electronic filing program.

By 1996, the fast-growing company had established an income tax school and developed its first Web site. Today, Peoples Income Tax has several divisions, including Peoples Financial Services, which among other things operates an online supply store that markets 30,000 items to the company’s tax preparation clients and small businesses.

McCabe compares the Internet’s significance as a business tool to the arrival of the personal computer on the small business level. “It will create tremendous opportunity to reach more people,” McCabe said. “We are now serving people via the Internet in Europe, Asia and other parts of our country.”

When a customer moves away, it no longer means his business must go away as well.

All this Web integration at Peoples did not happen overnight or by luck. Rather, McCabe said, it has happened after in-depth research and advance planning.

“ You can spend a lot of money developing a Web site and not get any return on it if you don’t really have a good strategic plan as to what your goals are and how you’re going to achieve them.” Establish a roadmap

McCabe’s advise to plan out an e-commerce or e-business strategy is vital, experts say.

A small business has several options for moving part or all of a business to the Internet. It can use a basic service such as Yahoo! (www.yahoo.com) to establish a Web e-commerce site. It can choose more flexible and sophisticated packages such as Microsoft Site Server. Or it can hire an Internet services firm to develop a comprehensive online effort.

In any of these choices or combinations, however, the first step involves planning and goal setting. If that sounds as if you’re starting your small business from the ground up a second time, it should.

Becoming involved in e-commerce is just as complicated and unpredictable in many ways, just as expensive at times and just as risky as opening a shop downtown or in a suburban strip mall.

Bart Nasta, a vice president with Xperts Inc. of Richmond (www.xperts.com), compares the strategy to climbing a mountain. The climber must be in good condition, prepare well and launch his effort at the right time. The venture includes stopping at intermediate goals-base camps for the mountaineer-with the summit ultimately a question mark.

“You almost have to be prepared that you can’t map out every footstep. It is a journey,” he said.

Launch the journey with a simple question: “Why am I doing this?”

Is the goal to increase revenue? Reduce costs? Get ahead of our keep pace with competitors? What problem are you trying to solve?

“The Internet is effectively giving you a different distribution channel, “ Nasta said.

That channel may be for products or services consumers purchase or items needed by suppliers, vendors or other business partners.

What’s the advantage?

Brian Browning has another question important for the early strategy-development phase: “What am I adding or providing to this transaction that makes it unique or better than buying it from my competitor?”

Browning is in charge of the “emerging enterprises” group at the Richmond office of iXL Inc. (www.ixl.com), an Internet services and development company. iXl works primarily with large companies, but Browning’s department specializes in small company Internet strategies.

Though relatively young, the Web is quickly filling up with e-commerce companies in major and minor industry and retail categories. Still, Browning said small businesses typically offering niche products and services have promising opportunities online.

If a company makes toys, it’ll face serious obstacles to establishing an effective e-commerce presence, he said. If the company makes special, hand-made wooden toys, it has a better chance of occupying an available niche.

“Content is still king” Browning said. “The bottom line is you have to have something that is compelling.

” How to define cheap?

With the kind of online migration the Kelsey Group documents, it isn’t surprising that companies are multiplying with you in mind. Their e-business is to help get your e-business going.

And some claim to do the job for free-or at least for no cost or low cost to establish your company in a minimal fashion on the Web.

Yahoo!, the famous Web portal site, offers a small business service.

Freemerchant.com does as well, and has been widely acclaimed in reviews of such services conducted by online magazines and news services.

The “budget” offers may be quick and relatively simple, but they have limitations. The interface, or appearance, of your free site likely will mirror one in a basic set of templates provided by the service. Customizing that interface may be difficult, if not impossible.

An essential element of any e-commerce site is the ability to process credit card transactions online in a secure environment. Budget services typically offer this, but often charge a fee for the “ shopping cart” service that may increase as the number of online orders increases.

Room for expansion is another consideration. If you expect the online effort to blossom, a free service may or may not provide an answer. “The word in the industry is scalability,” Nasta said. “If you’re looking to start an e-commerce site and you want to make five grand a month, you don’t need to worry about it. But if you really want to grow a business you do need to worry about it.”

Another option

CraftArt.com is a Richmond company that exists solely on the Internet. Its products include handmade crafts of artists from around the world.

The company “went live” on the Web in October 1998, using a software package called iCat Commerce Publisher to develop its Web site. Project manager Carmen Vasquez handled most of the site development and upkeep using iCat-a full-time duty.

But the iCat package CraftArt uses is being discontinued. The company recently evaluated new e-commerce packages before settling on Microsoft Site Server.

It reached that decision first by establishing what CraftArt wanted in an e-commerce package. In-house flexibility was at the top of the list.

“We want to have complete control over the look and feel,” Vasquez said. “It requires a lot of programming. That’s the downside of it, and where it gets kind of expensive.”

The CraftArt site, however, has a distinctive, uncluttered appearance. Its custom gift selection feature and search capabilities add to the individuality and helped convince a panel of independent judges to name CraftArt.com “Best in E-commerce” in the 1999 Metro Business Monthly Small Business Web Site Contest.

“Our site would not look like this on Yahoo!” Vasquez said.

Whom to choose

At Peoples Income Tax, Chuck McCabe has developed a series of partnerships to develop and advance online initiatives. McCabe in some cases obtains services by sharing profits.

“We came to realize we were going to have to go outside to get a professional to help us,” he said. “Either you but the technology or you strike an alliance with a technology partner.”

McCabe recommends that a small business interview a handful of potential partners or development companies before selecting one. Get a list of their client sites and spend some time navigating those sites for ease of use and see how they match up with the developer’s claims.

“A lot of times, what we saw was not at all what was presented to us,” he said.

IXL’s Browning again recommends an audit of your needs and expectations before figuring out what developer or developers can best offer a solution. Selling goods online or working with online or working with other businesses online involves marketing, distribution and much more.

“Maybe come up with the top three things you want your site to do and go find companies that do them all well, “ he suggested.

Small-business owners also must consider the costs of having an e-commerce site on the Internet 24 hours a day. Depending on the scope of your effort and how much hardware is needed, it can cost from $15 to $5,000 a month to have a company “host” your site.

Sounds bewildering.

“It is bewildering,” said Xperts Inc.’s Nasta. “ You have to approach it as you approach any thing else. Ask for references. Ask for technology rates. In some of them, you’re looking at a tradeoff between off-the-shelf [products] versus custom [development].”

Really worth it?

The Internet isn’t for everybody, and it’s not for every small business. But for thousands of modestly sized companies, there’s no more effective or faster way to boost competitiveness.

The Kelsey Group/Constant’s Local Commerce Monitor survey showed that 81 percent of all small businesses now have a PC. OF those with Internet access, 70 percent are using it to contact suppliers and 44 percent us the Internet to make purchases.

“It does open new markets to small business, “ Browning said. “ You really can look every bit as good as a Fortune 500 company and nobody has to know the difference.”

By: Erin Tilley

This tax season, Peoples Income Tax continues its 5-year tradition of visiting the Daily Planet and other Richmond area shelters to provide free tax preparation and electronic filing for individuals served by the shelters. The company, headquartered in Richmond, also assists women who reside at St. Joseph’s Villa’s Flagler Home and participants of the welfare-to-work program GREAT.

Company founder Chuck McCabe knows what it’s like to need a helping hand. While working as a freight brakeman for the railroad, McCabe was knocked off the top of a boxcar. Out of work for months and broke, he noticed an ad for an H & R Block tax course. He borrowed $60 from his then-fiancee and now wife, Marilyn, and attended the course. Just four years later, at age 26, McCabe became the director of the company’s Mid-Atlantic region, overseeing 225 offices. Pretty impressive considering he ascended the ranks in the financial field without having completed high school.

During his 30′s, McCabe augmented his on-the-job training and bolstered his credentials by earning a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in business administration. Following his back-to-school experiences, he co-authored two guide books, “Back to School: The College Guide for Adults” and “New Horizons: The Education and Career Planning Guide for Adults.”

McCabe made his way to Richmond in 1983 when he accepted the position of COO with a company that owned a major H & R Block franchise here. Then, in 1987, McCabe founded Peoples Income Tax, which now has 16 offices in Virginia. When brainstorming ideas for the name of his company-to-be, McCabe kept coming back to the idea of “providing a service with people for people.” This year, Peoples Financial Services was formed to meet the needs of clients with more complex tax needs. Along with offering tax preparation assistance, Peoples provides educational and organizational materials to private tax firms and colleges throughout the country.

While not crunching numbers and managing business, McCabe spends his time writing, woodworking and landscaping around his home in the Far West End.

“Years ago, my first real job was as a brakeman and freight conductor for the Pennsylvania Railroad. At that point, I hadn’t finished high school. I got knocked off a boxcar and got a back injury and I was engaged and needed a part-time job. I saw the ad for the H&R Block Tax Course and took it and learned how to become a tax preparer. The company was expanding and so I almost immediately became an assistant district manager and then I became district manager expanding from zero offices to seven. I then became regional director. I just got into it by taking the tax course then later on went to get my education.”

“I am a newly appointed member [of the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee], one of seven. And basically the [mission of the] ETAAC is to provide advice and guidance to the IRS. Particularly, to help the ETA reach its goal of having 80 percent of all tax returns filed electronically by 2007. Congress made the goal and we need to achieve it.”

“[Peoples Income Tax] currently e-file[s] 90- percent [of the returns] that we prepare [and] we prepare over 10,000 a year. It’s a more efficient way to do it. It takes a lot less time and money to file electronically versus a paper return, so there is less cost involved in the process and that should translate to [fewer] tax dollars being spent. There are big advantages to [e-filing for] the government, taxpayers and tax practitioners.”

“Some people question whether they’ll be able to reach [the goal]. I think its’ reachable; everyone is working diligently to find creative ways to do it.”

“The IRS is making excellent progress. There are a lot of challenges and ETAAC is a multiple-effort campaign [consisting] of advertising, awareness [and] education [aimed at reducing]… barriers such as extra paperwork for the tax practitioner. Some tax practitioners don’t see enough benefit to implement it because… [they are preparing more complex returns for people with] upper-end or higher incomes. What I would like to see is that all tax practitioners are on the same playing field. We are very supportive of e-filing and we encourage our clients to do it.”

-Interviewed by Victoria Schnettler

Four office openings, relocation of 2 others among signs of progress.

The recession hasn’t slowed the growth of all businesses. In fact, the economic slowdown played a key role in Chuck McCabe’s decision to expand the operations of Peoples Income Tax, Inc.

McCabe is president and chief executive officer of the tax preparation company.

Peoples has 21 locations in central Virginia, including one office in Fredericksburg. The company employs about 20 full-time employees year-round and an additional 100 seasonal tax preparers.

Thanks to a growing pool of people seeking jobs last year, McCabe said he will be able to open four new offices this year: downtown at Seventh and Franklin streets; at The Creeks shopping center across from Virginia Center Commons; at Laburnum Park shopping center; and in Charlottesville at Fashion Square Mall. The Charlottesville location opened Wednesday.

Shifted for greater visibility
McCabe also has relocated two offices for greater visibility; The Genito Forest office is now at the Commonwealth Center in Chesterfield County, and the Colonial Heights office is now at Southpark Mall.

In addition, shoppers at three Community Pride grocery store locations can receive help from Peoples. The effort started Jan. 11 and will continue until the end of February. The participating stores include those at Harrison and Grace Streets, Southside Plaza and Mechanicsville Turnpike near Interstate 64.

“The combination of Community Pride and Peoples Income Tax names produces a real synergistic effort,” McCabe said, “and enables us to capitalize on the loyalty and brand recognition of two home-grown Richmond companies.”

Started in 1987
McCabe started Peoples in 1987 and operated three offices during the 1988 tax season. He founded the company after working for H&R Block for 19 years. McCabe worked in New York and Baltimore-Washington areas and helped establish offices in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He came to Richmond in 1983 to be regional director for the company.

McCabe said the company has put a heavy emphasis on technology since its early years. Peoples was one of three tax preparation companies in the state to use E-filing for the 1988 tax season, he said.

E-filing is a method of filing tax returns on-line. Peoples acquired a trade industry newsletter, E-Filing Today, and has a partnership with the Internal Revenue Serviece to promote E-filing. The IRS has a link on its Web site to the Peoples home page.

McCabe said the goal of the E-filing concept is to have 90 percent of filers using the online service instead of mailing their returns.

He said that the advantages of E-filing include greater accuracy and quicker refunds. E-filers also receive a receipt.

If a tax balance is due, filers can find that out in January but aren’t required to pay until April 15.

McCabe’s tax services vary in price according to the complexity of the tax return. Tax preparation for full-time students can cost as little as $25, while the services for other filers can run from $50 to several hundred dollars.

Appreciate the work they do
Richmond resident Sandy Stoddart said she’s been using Peoples to file her tax returns for four years. “I really appreciate the work they do.” she said. “They take the fear and intimidation out of doing taxes. They make it a personal experience.”

Dorothy Hall, past president of Virginia Credit Union, also is a longtime customer. “They have just been so helpful,” Hall said. “Not only do they help me during tax time, but I can pick up the phone anytime during the year and get advice.”

Peoples has facets other than tax returns. One is the Income Tax School, which is licensed by the Virginia Department of Education as a private career school. The school offers correspondence courses for people nationwide.

All materials, including books and manuals needed for the school, are published by Peoples. McCabe said more than 2,000 people and companies, locally and across the country, utilize the school each year. The 10-week course costs $149 including books and materials. “The school is an integral part of our business,” he said, “but our motivation isn’t the money, it’s the people.”

Interest has been so significant that Peoples has established an interactive online curriculum which will be available to the public August 1.

February 20, 2008
Contact: Chuck McCabe (804) 204-1040 / (800) 984-1040 cmccabe@peoplestax.com

Richmond, VA –The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced that in most cases taxpayers will not have to do anything extra to receive a Tax Stimulus Rebate – just file a return as usual, and the Tax Stimulus Rebate will be mailed to them as a check or direct deposited to the same account they designated for their tax refund direct deposit.   Individuals who are not normally required to file a return because they do not meet the filing requirement and have no tax liability, must file a 2007 return in order to receive a Tax Stimulus Rebate Check.  Provisions of the economic stimulus package allow people with no tax liability, such as retirees, students and low income workers who did not have enough taxable income to be required to file a return, to receive a rebate of $300 ($600 for a joint return) provided they had a least $3,000 of qualifying income, which may include wages, Social Security benefits and other taxable income.

Peoples Income Tax will prepare tax returns for those who are not required to file but are eligible for Tax Stimulus Rebate. Checks for a fee of just $25, which is less than one–fourth of Peoples’ standard fee to prepare the required tax return.

Taxpayers, spouses and children all must have valid Social Security Numbers to qualify for the Tax Stimulus payment.  Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (or any number) issued by the IRS are ineligible. Also ineligible, are individuals who can be claimed as dependents on someone else’s return, or taxpayers who file Form 1040-NR, 1040-PR or 1040-SS.

The IRS will begin distribution of the Tax Stimulus Rebate Checks (or direct deposits) in late May and will continue sending payments until December 31, 2008, for taxpayers who file later in the year.  Taxpayers can expect to receive two informational notices in the mail from the IRS advising them of the stimulus payments.

Questions about tax filing requirements and Peoples’ special $25 tax preparation offer may be addressed to Peoples’ Director of Operations, Sheila Clark, who can be reached at (804) 204-1040 or sclark@peoplestax.com.   Or, for more information about the Tax Stimulus Rebate Check distribution process, log onto: www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179094,00.html.
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