Get the most from your earnings this tax season!

Today, January 31st is National EITC Day! That is, the Earned Income Tax Credit is one of the largest anti-poverty tools for low-income working families in the United States. Yet, 20-25% of people who are eligible for this credit do not claim it - so many people just don't know about it. This is money that you have earned, and you could keep!

Earlier this month, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley announced its investment in four agencies in Lawrence to promote the use of EITC and other asset building tools. (See Rumbo articles on pages 6-8 here ). At the formal announcement on January 18th, two women who received EITC spoke about how it helped their financial situations to pay off debt and to save for employment-enhancing education. A third woman wanted to be there, but she was involved in the first time purchase of a modest home...using her EITC toward a downpayment! EITC works!

So, if you worked in 2007 and - earned about $40,000 or less and have children living with you OR earned about $13,000 with no children - you may be eligible for valuable tax credits! Eligible folks could see $400 to over $4000 refunded back to them! Individuals who want to learn more about EITC or locate the nearest free tax preparation sites for income eligible folks, can dial 2-1-1, a free health and human service referral line or 1-800-906-9887. Folks with an income of $54,000 or less can file online with www.thebeehive.org/taxes.