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Earned Income Tax Credit Campaign Urges Taxpayers to File for Unclaimed Refunds

The Internal Revenue Service estimates that millions of dollars are left unclaimed each year by taxpayers who could benefit from it the most. For those who work and have incomes from $11,750 or less (for a single person with no children) to $37,263 or less (for a married couple filing jointly with two or more children), filing for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) results in an average tax refund of $2,000 among families with children (see table).

Congress established the tax credit 30 years ago to offset the burden of Social Security taxes and provide low-income families with an incentive to work. The EITC now lifts more children out of poverty by providing more dollars to working families than any other social program ever enacted. Ten times the size of the Community Development Block Grant program, the EITC is larger than food stamps and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families combined. About $39 billion in EITC refunds were claimed for tax year 2003.

The EITC is a "refundable" credit, which means qualified households can get it even if they owe no net taxes. It is available to full- and part-time workers, self-employed individuals, workers who also receive public assistance and immigrants who are legally authorized to work. EITC eligibility is based on income and family size.

The EITC Assistant, a new IRS tool available in both English and Spanish on the IRS web site, www.irs.gov, helps determine eligibility and estimates the amount of the EITC taxpayers may receive. To receive the refund, taxpayers must file a tax return even if they did not earn enough money to be required to file a return.

The IRS estimates that each year 15 to 25 percent of all eligible workers do not claim the EITC. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas ranks first in the amount of EITC funds claimed in 2003 (over $4 billion). However, the Texas comptroller estimates 600,000 eligible families did not apply, potentially leaving more than $1 billion unclaimed—lost opportunities to pay down debt, get new tires for the family car and save for a rainy day.

Why are thousands of low-income households leaving money on the table? Most experts believe people are not claiming the credit because they do not know the EITC exists or think they are not eligible.

Like many taxpayers, low-income families often need help with preparing their tax return. Free assistance is available at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites and Tax-Aide sites (sponsored by AARP), conveniently located in community centers, libraries, schools and at some large employers. Throughout the year, local coalitions plan the sites, recruit volunteers to staff the sites and implement marketing strategies, with the goal of getting more EITC dollars back into their local economies.

To locate the nearest VITA site, call 1-800-829-1040. Information on Tax-Aide locations is available at the AARP web site, www.aarp.org .

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e-Perspectives, Volume 6, Issue 1, 2006

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas  Community Affairs Office  P.O. Box 655906, Dallas, Texas 75265-5906 214-922-5377
Gloria Vasquez Brown  Vice President		Alfreda B. Norman  Assistant Vice President and Community Affairs Officer
Jackie Hoyer  Houston Branch Senior Community Affairs Advisor		Julie Gunter  Community Affairs Specialist
Elizabeth Sobel  Community Affairs Specialist		Roy Lopez Community Affairs Specialist
The views expressed are the authors' and should not be attributed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas or the Federal Reserve System. Articles may be reprinted on the condition that the source is credited and a copy is provided to the Community Affairs Office.

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