Are You Eligible for EITC? Free Tax Prep Sites Help You Get it and Get it Right

Free Tax Assistance Helps Thurston County Residents Claim Their Full Refunds

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Submitted by Thurston Assist Building Coalition 

Workers may get a larger tax refund this year because of the EITC or Earned Income Tax Credit. But to get it, you must file a tax return and claim it.

Today, January 26, 2019, marks the 13th anniversary of Awareness Day, a nationwide effort to increase awareness about the EITC and other refundable credits. This year, IRS is promoting EITC and providing information on other refundable tax credits that you may be eligible for. This includes the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit.

  • The Internal Revenue Service reports that the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) raises over 6 million people above the poverty line each year. Yet, every year one out of five eligible workers fails to claim it. This leaves billions of dollars unclaimed.

Why is it important to have an EITC Awareness Day each year? One-third of the EITC population changes each year. The IRS estimates only four out of five workers claim the EITC they earned. This leaves billions of dollars on the table each year. We want to get the word out to those who are eligible to file a tax return even if they don’t owe any tax to claim the EITC. Its money workers can use for groceries, rent, utilities and other bills.

EITC is complex. It varies by income, family size and your filing status. To be eligible, you must have earned income or certain disability income. This means you must have income from working for someone or working for yourself.

Find out if you are eligible using the EITC Assistant; it’s available in both English and Spanish. The Assistant helps you:

  • find your filing status,
  • find out if you have a qualifying child or children,
  • verify if you are eligible for EITC, and
  • estimate the amount of your credit.

Let the Assistant help you get it and get it right. Visit EITC Assistant.

Also, if you make less than $54,884, you qualify for free tax return preparation through volunteer sites. IRS-certified volunteers prepare your tax return and find out if you qualify for EITC and other refundable credits. Find a FREE Tax Preparation site near you. The Thurston Asset Building Coalition in partnership with the AARP Tax Aide Foundation offer free tax preparation services for low-to-moderate-income working people. The sites are staffed by trained and IRS certified volunteers. Volunteers ask you the needed questions to find out if you qualify for the EITC and other refundable tax credits. Volunteers at Tax-Aide sites, also prepare and e-file (electronically file) your tax return at no cost to you.

Let us help you get it and get it right. Visit thurstonabc.org/programs/taxes or call 211 to find a free income tax preparation site near you.

Looking forward to answering any questions you might have.

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