Get Your Green Back with Tax Credits!
Your money. You earned it. Now claim it!Tax season can be a stressful time for some, but we are hoping to make things a little easier for you this year. We are spreading the word about two very important tax credits – the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit – and about free services in Lane County that can make filing taxes a breeze!Tax CreditsThe Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable federal income tax credit for eligible working individuals and families. Last year over $7 million came back in refunds to Lane County taxpayers through AARP Tax Aide sites, and some of that money may be yours to claim! Even those who have only been working for part of the year may be eligible. Will you qualify for the EITC this year? Find out here.You do not have to have a child to qualify for the EITC. However, if you are working and have a qualifying child you could be eligible for both the EITC and the Child Tax Credit!The Child Tax Credit (CTC), which could be worth up to $1000 per child, is another great opportunity for some families. These credits can reduce the amount of income taxes that workers owe – but even workers who do not owe taxes can qualify for credits.Wish you knew about these tax credits earlier? You may be able to back-file for up to 3 years, meaning you could get back some of the money now that you’ve been missing! Ask your tax preparer for more information if you think this could be you.Take a moment to gather up all your documents, complete your paperwork and make the most of your tax refund this year. For a helpful Tax Preparation Checklist, Click here."Do-It-Yourself" FilersUnited Way of Lane County has partnered with MyFreeTaxes.com, a site powered by H&R Block, to provide a free online filing service for households who made less than $60,000 in 2014. Visit www.myfreetaxes.com to file your federal and state returns for free! This link will take you to H&R Block’s software, so you can get the quality program and 3-year guarantee all at no cost to you. The site is ready to go, so get ahead of the game and start filing your taxes for free today!Volunteer Free Tax PreparationWith the help of community partners, generous tax preparation hosts and volunteers, United Way is also able to connect people to FREE tax preparation sites to help you through the filing process! AARP Tax Aide™ sites will be open throughout Lane County beginning the week of February 1, 2015. IRS certified volunteers will prepare returns for qualified residents completely free of charge! You do not need to be an AARP member to participate. Click here to find out more information about AARP Tax-Aide.You can dial 2-1-1 or Click here to find Tax-Aide site locations throughout Lane County.Happy filing!