Washington, D.C. – Today is Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva supports this effort to increase EITC awareness among potentially eligible taxpayers.

The EITC is a federal tax credit that recognizes the economic contributions of working families. Last year, about 124,834 people in our community, Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, claimed the EITC. That brought more than $718,153,167 out of Washington D.C. and back to Arizona families.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can put money back in your pocket if you meet any of these criteria for the current Tax Year 2007:

• Workers earning less than $12,590 ($14,590 for married workers filing jointly) with NO qualifying children.
• Families earning less than $33,241 ($35,241 for married workers filing jointly) with ONE qualifying children.
• Families earning less than $37,783 ($39,783 for married workers filing jointly) with TWO OR MORE qualifying children

To help those who do qualify, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) partners with volunteers and local organizations to provide information and tax assistance to working families and seniors.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) offers free tax help to people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. across the country.

At VITA Tax Sites, volunteers provide free tax assistance to qualifying tax payers. VITA Volunteers help families and individuals claim every tax benefit available to them, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit.

See IRS information on http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=130102,00.html for more details and a checklist to make sure you qualify for EITC.

“Tax season is here and I am committed to making sure that Arizona families do not miss out on a valuable tax benefit for working Americans.”