|
The Internal Revenue Service, the Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD), the United Way Financial Stability Partnership of Chester County, and Life Transforming Ministries (LTM) are asking you to help spread the word: today is National Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day.
By now workers have received their W2's and are planning to complete their 2009 tax returns.
The National EITC Awareness Day is designed to remind taxpayers that the EITC is one of the largest benefit programs for working families and is also one of the most overlooked tax credits.
The US Chamber of Commerce has identified the EITC as the most effective poverty fighting mechanism in the last 40 years, yet the IRS estimates that one in four eligible taxpayers could miss out on this valuable credit. Rural residents, self-employed people such as farmers, childless workers and grandparents raising grandchildren are among those who may be eligible but fail to claim EITC.
Many people will qualify for EITC for the first time this year because their income declined or they added children to their families. Taxpayers making as much as $48,279 could qualify for EITC. A married couple with three children and an income ranging from $12,570 to $21,420 could be eligible for the maximum tax credit of $5,657.
Through April 14th, Chester County taxpayers can have their returns prepared for no charge at IRS certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites operated by Life Transforming Ministries (LTM) in Coatesville, Exton, Phoenixville and West Chester.
|
Chester County Board of Commissioners: