Kaptur Reminds Working Families To Check Eligibility For The Earned Income Tax Credit
KAPTUR REMINDS WORKING FAMILIES TO CHECK ELIGIBILITY FOR THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT
At a news conference this morning at the Point Place Branch Library, Representative Marcy Kaptur reminded working families in the area to be certain to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit on their federal tax forms if they are eligible.
"The Earned Income Tax Credit brings hundreds of thousands of tax dollars back to our community," said Congresswoman Kaptur. "The Earned Income Credit is there for working families who qualify, but to get it, they have to claim it on their tax forms.
The Earned Income Credit, Kaptur explained, is a tax credit for people who work but do not earn high incomes. If they qualify and claim the credit, they could pass less federal tax, possibly pay no tax at all, or even receive a refund beyond the amount of federal taxes they had withheld.
"Unfortunately, we learn every year about families who might have been eligible for the credit but fails to claim it. Everyone needs to help build awareness of the Earned Income Credit so that no one misses this opportunity for money to help make ends meet."
For example, Congresswoman Kaptur said that more than 34,000 Lucas County residents claimed the Earned Income Credit during the previous tax year (2005), for a total amount of $64.3 million. However, an estimated $16 million was left unclaimed because taxpayers failed to request the credit when filling out their tax forms.
The total amount that eligible taxpayers in the Ninth Congressional District failed to claim probably exceeded $20 million.
This credit is called the "earned income" credit because, to qualify, the potential claimant must have worked and had earned income in the tax year 2006 under $38,348. If married taxpayers are filing jointly, at least one spouse must have worked and earned income. Congresswoman Kaptur said her office has a toolkit available for anyone with questions about the EITC. She urged people with questions to call her office at 419-259-7500 or 800-964-4699. She also noted that Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs will be in operation again this year to provide free help with tax forms for low-income residents and senior citizens.
http://www.kaptur.house.gov/PressRelease.aspx?NewsID=1586