Fed telephone tax credit question

**cptacek** · 03-19-2007, 04:02 PM

I got this info from the IRS website:
Telephone Tax Refund Questions and Answers

Individual taxpayers can take a standard amount from $30 to $60 based on the number of exemptions they are eligible to claim on their 2006 tax return. For those who can claim:

- One exemption, the standard refund amount is $30;
- Two exemptions, the standard refund amount is $40;
- Three exemptions, the standard refund amount is $50;
- Four exemptions or more, the standard refund amount is $60.

The instructions to the 2006 1040 tax forms provide more information on how to determine the correct number of exemptions. (Because the term “exemptions” does not appear on Form 1040EZ, people who fill out this form should follow the instructions carefully.)

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Requesting the standard amount is optional. It may be the easiest way to request a refund. A married couple filing a joint return with two dependent children, for example, will be eligible for the maximum standard amount of $60.

**Daylily** · 03-19-2007, 05:14 PM

I don't think you can actually claim it 'twice' so to speak. I guess it would depend on your filing status?

I printed off the complete instructions for form 8913 and read the instructions three times to determine what we could include and couldn't include and what was to be listed as 'long distance service' and what was to be listed as 'bundled service.'

I save all bills/receipts/everything so I had all the information I needed to fill out the forms. During the three year period we had 2 cell phones, one house phone for long distance, and one separate fax line that was also used for long distance. Our tax credit for this ended up being $192. That is obviously a lot more than the $40 we would have gotten otherwise.

If you have all your old bills then I think it is worth it to go back and add up the amounts if you had more than one phone service.

Fed telephone tax credit question