Layton, UT— Workers may get a larger tax refund this year because of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). But to get it, you must file a tax return and claim it.
January 28, 2022, marks the 16th anniversary of Awareness Day, a nationwide effort to increase awareness about EITC and free tax preparation sites. This year, IRS is promoting EITC and providing information on other refundable tax credits that you may be eligible for. This includes the Child Tax Credit (CTC), the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), the Credit for Other Dependents (ODC) and the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC).
In 2020, Tax Help Utah Coalition Partners, including Community Action Agencies, helped over 2,786 households receive more than $5,934,447.00 in EITC credits!
If you worked last year and had income of less than $51,464 check out your eligibility for EITC. EITC can mean up to a $6,728 refund when you file a return if you have qualifying children. Workers without a qualifying child could be eligible for a smaller credit up to $1,502. According to the Internal Revenue Service, the average amount credited for 2020 was $2,461.
Why is it important to have an EITC Awareness Day each year? One-third of the EITC population changes each year. The IRS estimates that 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. It’s 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. You can also use the EITC Assistant from the IRS to determine if you are eligible for EITC - even in some circumstances where you did not have to file!
Volunteers – trained by the Internal Revenue Service – ask you the needed questions to find out if you qualify for the EITC and other refundable tax credits. Volunteers at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) 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 https://taxhelput.org/ if you're in Salt Lake/Tooele Counties or https://EarnItKeepItSaveItUtah.org/ anywhere else in Utah to get help today!
