Earned Income Tax Credit can deliver big bucks

Posted by:

Robert Bliss, Director of Communications, Department of Revenue

The federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the federal (and state) income tax credit available to low- and moderate-income working families and individuals that can return as much as $5,657 in cash to a qualifying taxpayer.

If you are a working family with three or more qualifying children filing a joint return and your family earned less than $43,279 ($48,279 married filing jointly) in 2009, you may be eligible for up to $5,657 in federal and state tax credits. The state credit is equal to 15 percent of the federal credit.

A family with one qualifying child and earnings of $35,463 ($40,463 married filing jointly) is eligible for a credit of $3,043.

And for those without children, a single person earning up to $13,440 or a married couple filing jointly earning up to $18,440 are eligible for $457 in EITC.

It is estimated that approximately 50,000 eligible families in Massachusetts did not apply for the EITC, which would have delivered about $75 million in real dollars.

For information on the credit and on locating a free tax preparation site near your, go to the Mass.Gov web site for EITC.

To view a video presentation on the credit by Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, click on www.mass.gov/dor and then on the video link on the homepage under "Tax Tips."

Comments

[champion generator]

This post is a relief for those hard working people. The government should be credited for this. Truly service oriented and uncorrupted.

[Income Tax Calculator]

Isnt it just amazing that so many people did not take advantage of this!!

[Andy]

Thanks for the information. I know I will be claiming this credit this year and any increase is helpful