Clearing the Fog From Retirees' Rebates

Yesterday, the IRS announced that military personnel serving in combat zones have the option of including their nontaxable combat pay on their 2007 or 2008 tax returns if it helps them qualify for a rebate. To receive a rebate this year, military personnel in combat zones must file a 2007 return by Oct. 15, the IRS said.

Information and fact sheets about the rebates, which the IRS will start sending to taxpayers in May, can be found on the IRS Web site, http://www.irs.gov.

Border Patrol Job Fair

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which typically hires from the border states, will be in Washington tomorrow to recruit for the Border Patrol and help job applicants navigate the federal hiring process.

CBP plans to hire more than 6,000 Border Patrol agents this year, and the agency is scouting for employees across the country and overseas. Next week, for the first time, CBP recruiters will be in Germany at six military installations in hopes that military personnel leaving the armed forces will be interested in law enforcement careers.

Border Patrol recruits earn $36,000 to $46,000 in their first year, with the potential to earn up to $70,000 within three years of service, the agency said. The hiring process includes a written exam, medical exam and physical fitness test. The agency especially looks for applicants with an aptitude for languages or proficiency in Spanish.

The job fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Westin Embassy Row at 2100 Massachusetts Ave. For information, go to http://www.cbp.gov/careers .

Talk Shows

Tim Dirks, senior consultant at the Partnership for Public Service, will be the guest on "FedTalk" at 11 a.m. today on http://federalnewsradio.com and WFED radio (1050 AM).

Jim Williams, commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service at the General Services Administration, will be the guest on the IBM "Business of Government Hour" at 9 a.m. tomorrow on WJFK radio (106.7 FM).

Stephen Barr's e-mail address isbarrs@washpost.com.