The Honolulu and Hilo offices of the Internal Revenue Service will be open on Saturday, March 29 to help people file a tax return so they can receive the so-called federal economic stimulus payments that will be sent out in coming months.

The office at the Prince Kuhio Federal Building at 300 Ala Moana and the Hilo office at 101 Aupuni St. will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day. Hilo office personnel will be available to answer questions about the payments and accept tax returns, which must be done in order to receive the rebate.

The IRS said about 70,000 people in Hawai'i who qualify for an economic stimulus payment may not normally be required to file a tax return and may not have done so in several years. Under the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, people may be eligible for the minimum payment of $300 ($600 for married couples) even if they are not normally required to file a tax return.

To qualify for the minimum economic stimulus payment, people must have at least $3,000 of qualifying income in any combination income from Social Security retirement, disability or survivors' benefits; disability compensation, disability pension or survivors' benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs; Tier 1 benefits from Railroad Retirement, certain combat pay and earned income from wages, salaries, tips or net earnings from self-employment that are included in taxable income.

Also on March 29 and April 5 the Oahu Veterans Center will be open to assist Hawaii Veterans and Social Security Benefit recipients who are receiving certain veteran benefits, certain Social Security benefits, and/or railroad retirement benefits who normally do not have a filing requirement, but need to file a return in order to get the stimulus payment.

The center at 1298 Kukila St. in Honolulu will be open between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. that day.