Mark Warner on Disabled Veterans' Benefits: Third E-Mail Lucky

In the e-mail below U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) says that he e-mailed all his constituents who use the Internet about this issue last winter. Apparently two separate e-mails triggered the automatic Spam Filter last winter, but this version made it through. Links to send him fanmail should work if you're in Virginia, may be programmed not to work elsewhere.

"
Dear Friend,

I emailed you earlier this year regarding a problem I've been working to solve for wounded warriors in Virginia and around the country. Today I'd like to give you an update on our progress.

As you might remember, due to a Pentagon computer system glitch, over 133,000 combat-wounded veterans had their disability severance pay improperly taxed. Those veterans will soon get a refund, thanks to legislation I co-authored with Senator John Boozman, a conservative Republican from Arkansas. So today I'm writing to let you know the Pentagon and the IRS have officially sent out instructions for veterans to apply for those refunds.

Those instructions are available here. If you are a veteran and think you may have had your severance pay improperly taxed, I encourage you to read the instructions, and if you need help, to contact my Roanoke Office: (540) 857-2676
As always, if there’s an issue that’s important to you or a question you’d like to ask, I invite you to send me an email and follow my work in the Senate on Facebook and Twitter. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,

Sign up for Sen.Warner's newsletter& teletownhalls

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From:"Sen. Mark Warner"
Date: Mon, Feb 12, 2018
Subject: Good News for Wounded Warriors
Dear Friend,
I’m writing with some good news for wounded warriors in Virginia and around the country. The Department of Defense recently announced that up to 133,000 veterans who were wounded in the line of duty may qualify for a federal tax refund, thanks to legislation we passed back in 2016.

For years, many wounded combat veterans had their disability severance pay improperly taxed because of a technical glitch in the Pentagon computer system.

When I found out about this, I teamed up with my friend Senator John Boozman, a conservative Republican from Arkansas, and we worked together to pass the Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act, which President Obama signed into law. Of all people, these veterans deserved to be treated better by their government, and I am glad that they will finally have the opportunity to claim money that is theirs.

For more information on the bill, check out theDaily Pressarticle below. If you’re a veteran whose severance pay was taxed after you were wounded in action, I encourage you to file for a refund. If you need assistance on this or any other issue with a federal agency, please call my office at 757-441-3079. We’ll do everything we can to help.
If there’s an issue that’s important to you or a question you’d like to ask, I invite you to send me an email and follow my work in the Senate on Facebook and Twitter. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,

Sign up for Sen.Warner's newsletter& teletownhalls

The Defense Department this month will begin notifying more than 133,000 combat-injured veterans who may qualify for a federal tax refund based on their disability severance pay, Sen. Mark R. Warner said Tuesday.

That’s because the federal government improperly withheld taxes on these payments for years, said Warner, who co-sponsored legislation to address the problem.

11,000 disabled student veterans left without rent, expense money due to computer glitch
Veterans separated from the military after a combat-related injury should not be taxed on the one-time lump sum disability severance payment they receive from the Defense Department, according to federal law.

“However, for years, DOD improperly withheld taxes on these payments from thousands of qualifying veterans, who were typically unaware that their benefits were being improperly reduced,”according to a news release from Warner’s office.

He blamed it on a technical glitch in the Pentagon’s computer system

The payments at issue go back to January 1991, Warner said.

Warner teamed with Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., on legislation requiring the department to identify these veterans, determine how much they are owed and notify them. Eligible veterans will have one year after receiving notice from the Defense Department to file a claim for the refund.

Mike Boehme, Virginia commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, urged veterans who receive the notification letter to follow the instructions and file an amended tax return to receive the refund.

Warner invited veterans who need assistance or have questions to call his office at 757-441-3079.

"