MORE IDAHOANS CAN CLAIM THE GROCERY CREDIT REFUND

BOISE, IDAHO — Feb. 10, 2009 —Idaho residents who don’t normally make enough money to file an income tax return now qualify to get a refund of the grocery tax credit beginning with tax year 2008. The grocery tax credit offsets the sales tax on groceries. The credit is $50 for Idaho residents who aren’t required to file an income tax return and $50 for each of their dependents. Residents age 65 and older get an additional $20.

To claim the refund, residents who are age 65 and older and their spouses should file a Form 24, Idaho Grocery Credit Refund. Residents under the age of 65 should file their claim on Form 40, Idaho Individual Income Tax Return.

Residents who received federal food stamps or were in jail during 2008 will receive a prorated refund for the part of the year they didn’t receive food stamps or were not in jail.

The Tax Commission has issued special instructions to help people who are submitting a Form 40 tax return only to get the grocery credit refund. These instructions include a flyer and an example of Form 40 showing which lines must be completed to claim the grocery credit refund.

To get the special instructions and copies of Form 40 or Form 24, Idahoans can visit the Idaho State Tax Commission’s Web site at tax.idaho.gov (click on “Get A Grocery Credit Refund Even if You Aren’t Required to File an Income Tax Return”). The Web site also features a list of volunteer tax sites that will help residents file for their grocery credit refund

About 200,000 more Idahoans qualify for the grocery credit in tax year 2008, including those who don’t normally file an income tax return.

If you have questions, please call the Tax Commission at (800) 972-7660 toll free or 334-7660 in the Boise area, or visit a Tax Commission office.                            

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