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CONGRESSMAN HELLER INTRODUCES BILL TO HELP VETERANS

Recently, U.S. Congressman Dean Heller (R-NV) introduced the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act to help aid veterans across Nevada recoup travel expenses for necessary health care visits to VA facilities.

There are more than 300,000 veterans in Nevada, many of whom live in rural communities, such as Elko, Winnemucca, and Tonopah, where VA health care is not closely available and some need to travel great distances to receive care.  In 2007, only 10,600 veterans in Nevada received travel reimbursements.  Some veterans don’t qualify for the current program.  Others don’t know of the program or feel there is no need to seek reimbursement because the very small amount of money is not worth the hassle.

This bill could help more veterans than the current, outdated program and provide better benefits.  Current law only reimburses veterans a mere 28 cents per mile.  This only covers fuel costs and not lodging, food, or alternative forms of travel, such as flight.

With gas prices well over $3.00 a gallon, 28 cents is not adequately helping our veterans.  This Bill would allow Veterans to receive up to $400 in tax deductions for travel expenses, such as gas, lodging, and/or food, when they travel to a VA health facility for treatment.

In order to qualify Veterans must:

• Live outside a 25 mile radius from a VA Medical Center where they are receiving treatment. (Currently, VA Medical Centers are in Las Vegas, Reno, Sacramento, Salt Lake City.)
• The reason for travel must be for treatment, examination, and/or surgery of a service connected disability.
• The veterans’ yearly income shall not exceed $75,000, or $150,000 for a family.  (This is the same criteria as the tax refund package passed in January.)

For more information, please refer to the related NOVS headlines.

Special stimulus payment details for recipients of Social Security,
veterans benefits !!

“Leave no man behind” is a proud military tenet.  It has a sacred meaning on the battlefield for the men and women of our armed forces.  But it also has application in everyday life.  Hundreds of thousands of veterans and their survivors are at risk of being left behind when it comes to the Economic Stimulus Payments...Full Story

It's not too late to file for your 2008 Economic Stimulus Payment!

Even though the usual April tax deadline has passed, it is not too late to file for your economic stimulus payment this year.  Persons who qualify for the payment must file a 2007 tax return by October 15, 2008.

"Many people are eligible but may not know it, or think it is too late to get a payment," said Clay Sanford, an IRS spokesman in Dallas, Texas. "These are certain retirees, disabled veterans and low-wage workers who
normally don't file a tax return because their income is too low or nontaxable."

The IRS began issuing economic stimulus payments of up to $600 for individuals ($1,200 for married couples) plus $300 for each eligible child under age 17  in late April, based on 2007 tax returns processed by April 15…Full Story

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