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Every year, taxpayers
with middle and low incomes miss out on thousands of
dollars of credit that could put money back in their
pockets.
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The Earned Income
Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable federal income tax
credit for working individuals and families. |
- If you worked in 2009 - full-time or
part-time - you may qualify.
- Even if you don't owe income tax you can get
the credits.
If you had children
living with you for more than half of 2009
- For the EIC, children must be under 19 in
2009. (Full-time students can be under 24;
children who are permanently and totally
disabled can be any age.)
- For the CTC, children must be under 17 in
2009.
If You Did Not Have
Children Living With You:
- You may claim the EIC if you were between
ages 25 and 64 in 2009.
How much can I earn? How Large
a Tax Credit Can I Get?
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For the EIC, if you
have: |
Earned income less
than: |
Claim an EIC up to: |
| 1 child |
$35,463 |
$3,043 |
| 2 children |
$40,295 |
$5,028 |
| 3 or more children |
$43,279 |
$5,657 |
| No children |
$13,440 |
$457 |
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For the CTC, if you
have: |
Earned
more
than: |
Claim a CTC up to: |
| 1 or more children |
$3,000 |
$1,000 per child |
| EIC income
limits for married workers are $5,000
higher! |
What if I’m Not a U.S.
Citizen?
Immigrants who work
and meet other guidelines may qualify.
- For the EIC: worker, spouse and any
child claimed needs a valid Social Security
Number.
- For the CTC: either a Social Security
Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification
Number (ITIN) is needed.
File a Federal Tax
Return to Get the EIC and CTC: Get Free Help!!!
- VITA — Volunteer Income Tax Assistance —
helps people fill out tax returns for free.
- Trained community groups operate VITA. For a
site near you, call 1-800-906-9887.
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 For
information on the closest assistance center, call 2-1-1, United
Way's information helpline. Information and Referral Specialists are
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 2-1-1 is a program of United Way of Tarrant County
and Texas Health and Human Services Commission. |
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The Arlington Assets for Working Families is a
partnership of the United Way, the
Community Tax Centers, AARP, and the City of Arlington,
working to provide free tax assistance to low and middle
income families that may be eligible for the tax credit. In
addition, AARP offers special attention to taxpayers age 60
and older.
Arlington Assets for Working Families prohibits all forms of
discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color,
religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age,
disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic or
status protected by law.
Also—Make Sure You Get Your
Making Work Pay Credit—an extra $400!
Many workers got the new Making Work Pay Credit in 2009
in their paychecks. But if you were self-employed, or didn’t
earn enough to have income tax withheld, you can claim this
credit on your tax return.
If You Work, You Can Get These
Tax Credits
and Not Lose Other Public Benefits
EIC, CTC and Making Work Pay Credit refunds won’t count
as income when you apply for or renew benefits like Food
Stamps (now called SNAP), SSI, Medicaid, cash assistance, or
public housing. Some benefit programs may have a limit on
how long you can keep your refund in a bank account.
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