Celebrate Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day

Jan. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- Saturday, January 29th is Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal income tax credit available to individuals and families participating in the work- force.

The EITC is the nation's largest and most effective federal aid program. Eligibility for the EITC is based on income level, marital status, and number of dependent children. As an individual or family's earned income rises, the amount of EITC they are eligible for also rises, providing an incentive to obtain and maintain employment. It then begins to decrease as an individual or family reaches an income level that allows them a measure of self-sufficiency.

If an individual or family worked in 2010—full-time or part-time—they may qualify. Even they don't owe income tax, they may be able to get the credit. For the EITC, if an individual has:

> 1 child and earned income less than $35,535*, he/she can claim an EITC up to $3,050
> 2 children and earned income less than $40,363*, he/she can claim an EITC up to $5,036
> 3 or more children and earned income less than $43,352*, he/she can claim an EITC up to $5,666
> No children (and between the ages of 25 and 64 in 2010) and earned income less than $13,460*, he/she can claim an EITC up to $457
*EITC income limits for married workers are $5,000 higher.

Celebrate EITC Awareness Day by scheduling an appointment with VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), an IRS-certified program led by United Way of St. Joseph County which provides free e-filed income tax preparation to individuals and families with an adjusted gross income of less than $49,000.

To schedule an appointment call 2-1-1. For a calendar of appointment dates, times and locations, visit http://www.uwsjc.org/our-impact/vita/vita-sites.html.

If you are interested in reporting on location at a VITA site or scheduling an interview, please contact Dawn Chapla at 574.232.8201, ext. 228 or dchapla@uwsjc.org.

Visit http://www.uwsjc.org/our-impact/vita for more information about VITA, a list of what to bring to a VITA site, how to volunteer, and financial resources including great tax tips.

United Way of St. Joseph County is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating long-lasting change, ensuring all residents have access to the building blocks to a better life: education, income and health. For more information about United Way of St. Joseph County, visit www.uwsjc.org, find us on facebook, or follow us on twitter @uwstjoecounty.

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