Not so fast about just filing a 2007 return to get one. There is income that is excluded. This is copied right from the IRS website:
Exclusions
Individuals who file Form 1040NR, 1040PR or 1040SS are not eligible for the stimulus payments. These returns are normally filed by Nonresident Aliens, residents of Puerto Rico and residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Residents of U.S. possessions will be receiving their rebates directly from the possessions.
Also ineligible are individuals who can be claimed as dependents on someone else’s return.
Dividends, interest and capital gains income is not included when determining qualifying income. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not count as qualifying income for the stimulus payment. Also not included in qualifying income are non-veterans or non-Social Security pension income (such as those from Individual Retirement Accounts).
Stimulus payments will be subject to offset against outstanding tax and non-tax liabilities in the same fashion as regular tax refunds.
In addition, the IRS emphasizes the stimulus payments will not count toward or negatively impact any other income-based government benefits, such as Social Security benefits, food stamps and other programs.
There was also a question and answer on there that might be of interest to some:
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Q. Are pension and annuity amounts provided by state, federal or private sector employers considered qualifying income in determining eligibility for the economic stimulus payment?[/FONT]
A. No, these payments are not included in the legal definition of qualifying income. [FONT='Arial','sans-serif'][Updated 5/7/08][/FONT]
So if your only income is pension income and from interest, dividends and capital gains and you aren't drawing social security, don't expect a check.
