The Internal Revenue Service has published new instructions on how retired firefighters can take advantage of the Healthcare Enhancement for Local Public Safety benefit on their 2007 tax returns.

The HELPS retiree health care benefit is a tax-free distribution of up to $3,000 from retirement plans to help retirees pay for health insurance or long-term care insurance premiums.

The IRS instructions for filing 2007 tax returns explains how to take advantage of this valuable benefit. The IRS will allow retired firefighters to exclude from income distributions made from eligible retirement plans up to $3,000 annually to pay the premiums for accident or health insurance or long-term care insurance. The premiums can be for coverage for the retiree, spouse or dependents. The distribution must be made directly from the retirement plan to the insurance provider. Eligible retirement plans include qualified trusts, section 403(a) plans, section 403(b) annuities and section 457(b) plans.

The IRS requires retirees to report total distributions on Form 1040, line 16a; Form 1040A, line 12a; or Form 1040NR, line 17a. The taxable amount should be reported on Form 1040, line 16b; Form 1040A, line 12b; or Form 1040NR, line 17b. Also, retirees should write “PSO” next to the appropriate line where the taxable amount is reported.