Congresswoman Moore Recognizes EITC Awareness Day
Washington,
January 29, 2021
Congresswoman Moore Recognizes EITC Awareness Day (Washington, DC) — Today is Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day, an national outreach campaign to increase the number of eligible Americans who claim the EITC and awareness of refundable credits, like the Child Tax Credit (CTC), the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the Premium Tax Credit, and the Recovery Rebate Tax Credit (stimulus checks). The EITC is one of America’s most powerful anti-poverty and work support programs. Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) issued the following statement urging taxpayers to take advantage of the EITC and encouraging Milwaukeeans to take advantage of free tax preparation sites and resources, including those provided by the IRS, to make sure they receive the benefits they deserve. “If you are eligible for the EITC, I urge you to claim it. The EITC is a refundable tax credit. That means you do not need to owe taxes to benefit. In fact, the EITC puts put real money into the pockets of millions of working families and this money goes back into our communities. “An estimated 1 in 5 eligible taxpayers miss out on the EITC; do not leave your hard-earned money on the table. Because of the current economic conditions, millions of workers qualify for EITC for the first time this year. And if you qualify for EITC, you may be eligible to claim other child-related tax credits. In 2018, the EITC lifted more than five million families out of poverty, including around 3 million children. “You should also know that the bill Congress enacted last December provides additional relief because we enacted a “look-back” provision to help those who may have earned less in 2020 than in 2019. You can elect to base your EITC and CTC for tax year 2020 on your earnings in either 2020 or 2019, whichever would provide you a larger credit. “Finally, keep in mind that you may be eligible for free tax filing help. I encourage every Milwaukee resident to access the free tax preparation programs around the city to know what benefits are available to them and to get assistance filing and claiming the EITC and other refundable credits.” This year, tax season will start on Friday, February 12, 2021, when the tax agency will begin accepting and processing 2020 tax year returns. For more information on free taxpayer services in Milwaukee, click here. For more information on the EITC, click here. |
