Don't pass up phone tax refund

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070209/COL07/702090426

OK, it's probably a bad idea to try to claim a $30,000 refund for your telephone excise tax. But if you're a senior -- or anyone else who normally doesn't file an income tax return -- you should take advantage of a one-time-only phone refund for 2006. It is easy money -- maybe too easy for the scam artists.

This tax season, most taxpayers can easily qualify for a standard telephone excise tax refund of $60 for a family of four or more, $50 for a family of three, $40 for a family of two or $30 for a single filer.

Just fill out one additional line on the 2006 income tax return to claim the standard refund based on the old excise tax on long-distance service. See line 71 on your 1040, line 9 on the 1040EZ or line 42 on the 1040A. You do not have to itemize to get this refund.