This article was originally published in the Vol. 17, Number 1, February 2010, issue of CSC's the Compass.
Learn about 2009 tax credits and free ways to file:
What is the EITC, and how can it help me?
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is for people who work and meet certain income guideline. You may get money back when you file your taxes and keep more of what you earned. It can make a big difference!
Learn more details and file your tax credits at a free tax assistance site near you. You may even get credits for the last two years.
How much money can I get back?
Your EITC check depends mainly on your family size and your 2009 earned income. If your family has three or more qualifying children and you earned less than $43,279, then you can get up to $5,657. If your family has two or more qualifying children and you earned less than $40,295, then you can get up to $5,028. If your family has one qualifying children and you earned less than $35,463, then you can get up to $3,043. If your family has no qualifying children and you earned less than $13,440, then you can get up to $457.
Note: Alimony and child support payments do not count towards income.
How do I know if I qualify for EITC?• You must have worked and earned income
• You must have a valid Social Security number
• You cannot be counted as a “child” by someone else
A “qualifying child” can be your...
Biological or adopted child, stepchild, foster child, brother or sister, stepbrother or stepsister, ...or the children of any of these people. A “child” must be younger than the person claiming the child; not have filed a joint return other than to claim a refund; and under 19 unless they are a full-time student or
permanently or totally disabled
What if I don’t owe any tax?
No problem. You can still get the tax credits.
Will the EITC affect my benefits?
Generally, no. The credit does not count as income for Medicaid, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or federally-assisted housing programs.
Retroactive EITC
If you qualified for EITC in previous years but didn’t file or claim the credit, you can still file or amend incorrectly filed tax returns for the previous two years to claim a refund.
Where to go for more information:
If you think you might qualify for the EITC and would like to check your qualifications, you can:
• Go to the IRS website at www.irs.gov and select “EIC Assistant” under Online Services
• Try the EITC eligibility calculator at www.cbpp.org
To find free online tax filing tools and tax preparation services:
• Go to the IRS website at www.irs.gov and select “Check Out Free File” for a list of free on-line tools.
• Try the ICAN! EFILE free on-line tool at www.icanefile.org. (Available in English and Spanish.)
