February 4, 2008: Are you eligble for the Earned Income Tax Credit?

The EarnedIncome Tax Credit (EITC), sometimes called the Earned Income Credit, is arefundable federal income tax credit for low-income working families andindividuals. Eligiblefilers usually end up with more money in their pockets, either by reducing theamount of tax they owe or providing them with a refund when the EITC exceedsthe amount of taxes owed.

Especially in these tough economic times, working people and familieswho qualify for the EITC should take advantage of this important taxcredit. If you think you might be eligible for the EITC, or if youknow someone else who might qualify, call my office or get moreinformation from the Internal Revenue Service web site.

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Earned Income Tax Credit from the IRS:

Question: Who can claim the credit?
Answer: To claim the EITC on your tax return, you must meet all of the following rules:

• Must have a valid Social Security number.
• You must have earned income from employment or from self-employment.
• Your filing status cannot be married, filing separately.
• You 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.
• You cannot be a qualifying child of a nother person.
• If you do not have a qualifying child you must: be age 25 but under 65 at the end of the year; live in the United States for more than half the year; and, no qualify as a dependent of another person.
• Cannot file Form 2555 or 2555-EZ (related to foreign earned income)
• You must meet the EITC thresholds and limitations

Question: What if I was denied the EITC last year?
Answer: If your EITC for any year after 1996 was denied or reduced forany reason other than a math or clerical error, you must attach acompleted Form 8862, Invitation to Claim Earned Income Credit AfterDisallowance to your next tax return to claim the EITC. You must alsoqualify to claim the EIC by meeting all the rules described inPublication 596.
However, do not file Form 8862 if either (1) or (2) below is true.

1. After your EITC was reduced or disallowed in the earlier year:

• You filed Form 8862 (or other doc8uments) and your EITC was then allowed, and
• Your EITC has not been reduced or disallowed again for any reason other than a math or clerical error.

2. You are taking the EITC without a qualifying child and the onlyreason your EITC was reduced or disallowed in the earlier year wasbecause the IRS determined that a child listed in the Schedule EITC wasnot your qualifying child.
Also, do not file Form 8862 or take the EITC for:

• 2 years after there was a final determination that your EITC was reduced or disallowed due to reckless or intentional disregard of the EITC rules, or
• 10 years after there was a final determination that your EITC was reduced or disallowed due to fraud.

Question: Who is a qualifying child?
Answer: Your child is a qualifying child if your child meets threetests. The three tests are: (1) Relationship (2) Age (3) Residency.

• Relationship
  • To be your qualifying child, a child must be your:
  • Son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, or a descendant (for example, your grandchild) of any of them, or
  • Brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant of any of them (for example, your niece or nephew).
  • Definitions to clarify the relationship test.
    • Adopted child: An adopted child is always treated as your own child. The term “adopted child” includes a child who was lawfully placed with you for legal adoption.
      
    • Eligible Foster Child. A person is your eligible foster child if the child is placed with you by an authorized placement agency or by judgment, decree, or other order of any court of competent jurisdiction.
• Age.
  • Your child must be: (1) Under age 19 at the end of the year; (2) Permanently and totally disabled at any time during the year, regardless of age.
• Residency Test.
  • Your child must have lived with you in the United States for more than half of the year. See (IRS) Publications 596 and 501 for more details.

Question: Who is an eligible foster child?
Answer: An eligible foster child is an individual who is placed withyou by an by an authorized placement agency or by judgment, decree, orother order of any court of competent jurisdiction.

Question: What is Earned Income?
Answer: Earned income includes all the taxable income and wages youget from working. There are two ways to get earned income: (1) Youwork for someone who pays you, or; (2) You work in a business you own.
Taxable earned income includes: wages, salaries, and tips; union strikebenefits; long-term disability benefits received prior to minimumretirement age; net earnings from self-employment.
[Non-taxable combat pay election. You can elect to have your nontaxablecombat pay included in earned income for the earned income credit. Theamount of your nontaxable combat pay should be shown on your Form W-2,in box 12, with code Q.]

Question: How do I figure my credit?
Answer: Once you know that you qualify for the EITC, you need to knowhow to figure the amount of the credit. You have two choices of how tofigure the credit:
(1) Have the IRS figure the credit for you. If you would like the IRS to do this, see Publication 596, or
(2) Figure the credit yourself. To do this you must use the EarnedIncome Credit Worksheet (EIC Worksheet) in the instruction booklet forForm 1040, From 1040A, or Form 1040EZ, and the Earned Income Credit(EIC) Table in the instruction booklet, or use the EITC Assistant Toolonline. For more information, see Chapter 4, Figuring and Claiming theEITC, in Publication 596.

Question: How can I get EITC in my paycheck?
Answer: You may prefer to get some of next year’s EITC throughout theyear, rather than wait and get EITC after you file your tax return. Toget EITC, complete Form W-5 and give the lower part of the form to youremployer. Keep the top part for your records.

Question: What if I am prohibited from claiming the EITC for a period of years?
Answer: If your EITC for any year after 1996 was denied and it wasdetermined that your error was due to reckless or intentional disregardof the EITC rules, then you cannot claim the EITC for the next 2 years.If your error was due to fraud, then you cannot claim the EITC for thenext 10 years. The date on which your EITC was denied and the date onwhich you file your tax return affects the years for which you areprohibited from claiming the EITC.