EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT
(INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS)
By Mary Loos
Managing Attorney for Legal Aid of Arkansas, Inc., and
Clinic Director for Legal Aid of Arkansas Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

What is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?  The EITC is a federal income tax credit for workers who earn low to moderate incomes.  If you qualify, EITC can reduce your tax liability (meaning you pay less in federal taxes) and can result in a refund in certain situations.  It could be worth more than $4,700 for the current tax year.  Could that make a difference in your life?  Of course, it could!  Find out if you are eligible to take the EITC.

The EITC has no effect on certain welfare benefits.  In most cases, EITC payments will not be used to determine eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps, low-income housing or most Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) payments.

Do you have to be married to qualify for the EITC?  No, you can be single to qualify.  However, if you are married, you must file a joint tax return.

Do you have to have a child to qualify for the EITC?  No, you do not have to have a child, but you must meet certain IRS requirements.  Read on to see what those requirements are.

How do you know if you are eligible to take this credit?  You must meet certain IRS requirements and file a tax return to claim the credit, even if you did not earn enough money to be legally obligated otherwise to file a tax return. 

To take the credit, you must have earned income from employment or self-employment.  Your earned income and adjusted gross income (AGI) for the current tax year (2007) must be less than:

• $37,783 ($39,783 married filing jointly) with two or more qualifying children;
• $33,241 ($35,241 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child;
• $12,590 ($14,590 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children.

What is the maximum credit for Tax Year 2007?  It is:

• $4,716 with two or more qualifying children;
• $2,853 with one qualifying child;
• $428 with no qualifying children.

Any investment income you receive must be $2,900 or less for the year.
The maximum Advance Earned Income Tax Credit (advance EITC) for Tax Year 2007 the employer is allowed to provide throughout the year with the employee's pay is $1,712.

You must meet the following EITC requirements:

• You must have a valid Social Security Number.
• You must have earned income from employment or from self-employment.
• Your filing status cannot be married, filing separately.
• You must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien all year, or a nonresident alien married to a U.S. citizen or resident alien and filing a joint return.
• You cannot be a qualifying child of another person.
• If you do not have a qualifying child, you must:
• be age 25 but under 65 at the end of the year,
• live in the United States for more than half the year, and
• not qualify as a dependent of another person.
• You cannot file Form 2555 or 2555-EZ (related to foreign earned income).

Keep more of what you earn.  Learn about the EITC on “Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day,” January 31, 2008.  Please join representatives from the Legal Aid of Arkansas Low Income Taxpayers Clinic and receive free information about this tax credit that may save you thousands of dollars.  Our representatives will be at Wal-Mart in Springdale, Arkansas, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and from 2:00 to 4:00 on January 31.  We are available to answer questions about Earned Income Tax Credit.

Do your taxes online free (regardless of how much or little money you make).  Visit our website at www.laalitc.org to access the program and for other information about your tax rights and responsibilities.