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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Gretchen M. Wintermantel
Tuesday, March 13, 2007 202.225.6511
Kanjorski Encourages Eligible Residents to Apply for Earned Income Tax Credit
Lists Free Help Available Through Various Programs
WASHINGTON - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) encourages all eligible residents of the 11th Congressional District to apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a tax refund for people who earn lower- to moderate- incomes. Nationally, the IRS estimates that between 15 percent and 20 percent of eligible taxpayers do not claim the EITC.
"Thousands of lower- to moderate- income individuals and families miss out on this substantial tax refund each year simply because they do not know about it. I encourage all of my constituents to find out if they meet the eligibility requirements for the Earned Income Tax Credit. If they do qualify, they should take advantage of it," Congressman Kanjorski said. "The number of eligible taxpayers who filed for the Earned Income Tax Credit in my congressional district has gone up slightly each year over the past few years, but my constituents are still missing out on millions of dollars."
Nearly 51,000 taxpayers in Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne and Monroe counties claimed more than $86 million in EITC in 2005. An increase of just 10 percent in the number of eligible taxpayers filing for the EITC could have meant an additional $6.4 million for taxpayers. The deadline for filing taxes this year is Monday, April 17, 2007 (because April 15 falls on a Saturday).
The EITC was created in 1975 to help the millions of lower-income working people who, despite their best efforts, cannot meet the rising costs of raising a family, such as food, health care and education.
To qualify for the EITC Program in the 2006 tax year, household income cannot exceed:
● $36,348 with two or more dependent children;
● $32,001 with one dependent child; or
● $12,120 with no dependent children.
The maximum credit available is $4,536 for a household with two or more dependents; $2,747 for a household with one dependent; and $412 for a household with no dependents.
Taxpayers will need Form W-5 to apply for the EITC. Taxpayers with a qualifying child will also need to fill out Schedule EIC (Form 1040 or 1040A).
To be considered eligible for the EITC, taxpayers must meet the following requirements:
● have a valid Social Security Number;
● have earned income from employment or from self-employment;
● filing status cannot be married, filing separately;
● 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; and
● cannot be a qualifying child of another person.
Taxpayers who do not have a qualifying child must meet the following requirements:
● be at least age 25 but under the age of 65 at the end of the year;
● live in the United States for more than half the year;
● not qualify as a dependent of another person; and
● cannot file Form 2555 or 2555-EZ related to foreign income.
For more information, you can call the IRS live help-line at 1-800-829-1040 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. You can ask questions to help you prepare your tax return. You can also visit the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov/eitc. The site provides a helpful Web-based tool called EITC Assistant that is available in both English and Spanish.
In addition, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program of the IRS offers free assistance during tax season to moderate-income individuals with the help of certified volunteers who can help prepare basic tax returns. VITA programs are often available at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, malls, and other organizations that sponsor volunteers. To find a local VITA site, call 1-800-829-1040.
A Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program is also available; for more information, you can call 1-800-829-1040. As part of this IRS-sponsored program, the AARP offers free Tax-Aide program during the filing season for individuals who are 60 and older. To locate the nearest AARP Tax-Aide site, call 1-888-227-7669.
Taxpayers need to bring the following to the VITA/TCE sites to have their tax returns prepared:
● proof of identification;
● Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents and/or a Social Security
number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration;
● birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return;
● current year's tax package if you received one;
● wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers;
● interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099);
● copy of last year's Federal and State returns if available;
● bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit; and
● total paid for day care provider and the day care provider's tax identifying number (the provider's Social Security Number or the provider's business Employer Identification Number).
Listed below are the free tax-help sites in the 11th Congressional District:
LACKAWANNA COUNTY
A Tax Assistance Center is located in Scranton at 409 Lackawanna Ave. It is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can contact that office at 570-961-2493.
VITA sites in Lackawanna County:
1) Keystone College - Gardner Hall
One College Green, LaPlume
(570) 945-8445
Appointment required.
2) University of Scranton - Brennan Hall, First Floor
300 Madison Ave., Scranton
No appointment necessary; E-filing available; help in English and Spanish.
Monday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesday, noon to 6 p.m.; Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
LUZERNE COUNTY
A local Tax Assistance Center is located in Wilkes-Barre at 7 North Wilkes-Barre Boulevard, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; it closes for lunch from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. You can contact that office at 570-821-4076.
VITA sites in Luzerne County:
1) Commission on Economic Opportunity
165 Amber Lane, Wilkes-Barre
(570) 826-0510
No appointment required on Monday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; by appointment at 570-826-0510, ext. 264.
E-filing available; help in English and Spanish.
2) Choice One Federal Credit Union
101 Hazle St., Wilkes-Barre
(570) 823-7676
Appointment required.
3) Luzerne County Community College - Conference Center Room 114
1333 Prospect St., Nanticoke
(570) 822-1158
Appointment required.
4) Wilkes University
84 West South St., Wilkes-Barre
(570) 408-4700
No appointment required; walk-ins only.
Every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
E-filing available.
AARP sites in Luzerne County:
1) M.S. Kirby Memorial Library
35 Kirby Ave., Mountaintop
(570) 474-9313
Every Monday from noon to 3 p.m. until April 15; Appointment required.
E-filing available.
2) Wilkes-Barre/Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
190 South Main St., Wilkes-Barre
(570) 474-9313
Every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. until April 15; Appointment required.
E-filing available.
3) Greater Hazleton Senior Center
24 East Broad St., Hazleton
(570) 459-1441
Every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for state and local tax help; appointment required.
Every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., federal taxes; no appointment required.
E-filing available.
CARBON COUNTY
AARP sites in Carbon County:
1) Lehighton Fire Station #2
124 South 3rd St., Lehighton
(610) 377-4002
Every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon until April 15; no appointment necessary.
2) Penn Forest Township Center
2010 State Route 903, Jim Thorpe
(570) 325-2768
Every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon; no appointment necessary, but first-come, first-served basis.
3) Beaver Meadows Borough Hall
100 East Broad St., Beaver Meadows
(570) 455-7841
Every Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon; no appointment required.
4) Memorial Park Hall
10 East 10th St., Jim Thorpe
(570) 325-3201
Every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; no appointment required.
COLUMBIA COUNTY
AARP sites in Columbia County:
1) Saint Luke's Lutheran Church
Social Hall
9 St. Luke's Way, Bloomsburg
(570) 784-5035
Every Monday from 9 a.m. to noon until April 15; no appointment necessary, but first-come, first-served basis.
2) Millville Senior Center
State and Walnut Streets, Millville
(570) 458-4212
Every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon; appointment preferred, but walk-ins will not be turned away.
3) Saint Matthew's Lutheran Church Library
123 Market St., Bloomsburg
(570) 784-4515
Every Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon; no appointment necessary.
4) Catawissa Senior Center
219 Pine St., Catawissa
(570) 356-2219
Every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon; appointment required.
5) Berwick Senior Citizens Center
1401 Orange St., Berwick
(570) 759-8529
Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon; no appointment required
Appointments will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis, and they ask that people do not arrive before 8 a.m. at the earliest.
MONROE COUNTY
AARP sites in Monroe County:
1) Mount Pocono Municipal Borough Building
303 Pocono Boulevard, Mount Pocono
Call the Department of Aging at (570) 420-3735.
Every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
No appointment required; first-come, first-served basis.
2) Municipal Building
25 Municipal Drive, East Stroudsburg
Call the Department of Aging at (570) 420-3735.
Every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
No appointment required; first-come, first-served basis.
3) Coolbaugh Municipal Building
5550 Memorial Boulevard, Tobyhanna
Call the Department of Aging at (570) 420-3735.
Every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Appointment is required.
4) Eastern Monroe Public Library
1002 North 9th St., Stroudsburg
Call the Department of Aging at (570) 420-3735.
Every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
No appointment required; E-filing available.
5) Pocono Township Building
Off Route 611, Tannersville
Call the Department of Aging at (570) 420-3735.
Every Monday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; No appointment required.
6) Salem United Church of Christ
P.O. Box 467, Gilbert
Call the Department of Aging at (570) 420-3735
Every Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; No appointment required.
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