Financial Planner

Checklist: Financial Deadlines

Things to do this weekend with your money: Some key financial deadlines are looming, which makes this a good weekend to do some planning.

* Today: If you have long-standing tax problems regarding an ex-spouse, you have until July 23 to request help under the “innocent spouse” tax rules. The rules require taxpayers to request relief within two years after the date when the IRS first began collection activity, starting July 22, 1998. For more information, contact your tax preparer or request IRS publication 971 and form 8857 by calling (800) 829-1040 or visiting the IRS Web site at https://www.irs.gov.

* Saturday: July 31 is the deadline to apply for retroactive Social Security benefits if you are 65 to 69 and did not apply for benefits because of the old earnings limits. Because the limits were recently repealed, benefits are available retroactive to Jan. 1. Those who have not yet applied must do so by July 31 or lose the benefits; those who are already receiving benefits will automatically receive the retroactive payments if their payments were affected by the earnings limit. For more information, call Social Security at (800) 772-1213 or visit https://www.ssa.gov.

* Sunday: Low-income California residents who are elderly or disabled may qualify for annual homeowners or renters assistance payments from the state. The payments, which range from $10 to $346, are available to residents who are blind, disabled or 62 and older and whose household income in 1999 was $33,993 or less. Applications must be submitted by Aug. 31. For more information, visit https://www.ftb.ca.gov or call the Franchise Tax Board at (800) 852-5711.