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Earned Income Tax Credit – Get it Right – English | Spanish | ASL

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service and partners across the nation remind taxpayers about the Earned Income Tax Credit today on “EITC Awareness Day” 2021. The IRS and partners nationwide urge people to check to see if they qualify for this important credit.

“This year marks the 15th annual EITC Awareness Day,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “For more than 45 years, this tax credit has been helping hard-working Americans and their families. We want to thank our partners around the country who help us reach out to those low- and moderate-income people who may qualify and not even know about it.”

The IRS earlier announced that it will begin accepting 2020 tax returns on Feb. 12. In the meanwhile, people can file their taxes electronically using IRS Free File or other name-brand software. Once filing season officially opens, the returns will be electronically submitted for processing. The IRS reminds taxpayers that the quickest way to get a tax refund is by filing electronically and choosing direct deposit for their refund.

New look-back rule
Under the COVID-related Tax Relief Act of 2020, taxpayers can use their 2019 earned income to figure their 2020 EITC if their 2019 earned income was more than their 2020 earned income. To qualify for EITC, people must have earned income, so this option may help workers who earned less in 2020, or received unemployment income instead of their regular wages, get bigger tax credits and larger refunds in the coming year. 

Also, any Economic Impact Payments received are not taxable or counted as income for purposes of claiming the EITC. Eligible individuals who did not receive the full amounts of both Economic Impact Payments may claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2020 tax return. See IRS.gov/rrc for more information.

Vital refund boost
The EITC is the federal government’s largest refundable federal income tax credit for low- to moderate-income workers. For those who qualify, and if the credit is larger than the amount of tax they owe, they will receive a refund for the difference. While the majority of those eligible claim EITC every year, IRS estimates that one of five eligible taxpayers do not claim the credit.

Taxpayers earning $56,844 or less can see if they qualify using the EITC Assistant tool at www.irs.gov/eitc. The EITC Assistant, available in English and Spanish, helps users determine if they are eligible, have a qualifying child or children and  estimates the amount of the EITC they may get. If an individual doesn’t qualify for the EITC, the Assistant explains why.

Nationwide in 2020, more than 25 million taxpayers received over $62 billion in EITC. The average EITC amount received was $2,461 per return. The EITC is worth as much as $6,660 for a family with three or more children or up to $538 for taxpayers who do not have a qualifying child.

Refunds
By law, the IRS cannot issue refunds before mid-February for tax returns that claim the EITC or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). The IRS must hold the entire refund − even the portion not associated with EITC or ACTC and the Recovery Rebate Credit if applicable. This helps ensure taxpayers receive the refund they deserve and gives the agency more time to detect and prevent errors and fraud. 
 
‘Where’s My Refund?‘ on IRS.gov and the IRS2Go app will be updated with projected deposit dates for most early EITC/ACTC refund filers by Feb. 22. Therefore, EITC/ACTC filers will not see an update to their refund status for several days after Feb. 15. The IRS expects most EITC or ACTC related refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit cards by the first week of March, if they choose direct deposit and there are no other issues with their tax return.
 
Workers who can claim the EITC
Workers at risk for overlooking this important credit can include taxpayers:

• Without children
• Living in non-traditional families, such as a grandparent raising a grandchild
• Whose earnings declined or whose marital or parental status changed
• With limited English language skills
• Who are members of the armed forces
• Living in rural areas
• Who are Native Americans
• With disabilities or who provide care for a disabled dependent

Life events or changes may make people eligible for certain tax benefits like the EITC. The IRS urges people to use the EITC Assistant to check their eligibility for this valuable credit.
 
How to claim the EITC
To get the EITC, workers must file a tax return and claim the credit. Eligible taxpayers are urged to claim the credit even if their earnings were below the income requirement to file a tax return. Free tax preparation help is available online and through volunteer organizations.

Those eligible for the EITC have these options:

• Free File on IRS.gov. Free brand-name tax software is available that leads taxpayers through a question-and-answer format to help prepare the tax return and claim credits and deductions, if they are eligible. Free File also provides online versions of IRS paper forms, an option called Free File Fillable Forms, best suited for taxpayers comfortable preparing their own returns.
• Free tax preparation sites. EITC-eligible workers can seek free tax preparation at thousands of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) sites. To locate the nearest site, use the search tool on IRS.gov, the IRS2go smartphone application, or call toll-free 800-906-9887. They should be sure to bring along all required documents and information.
• Find a trusted tax professional. The IRS also reminds taxpayers that a trusted tax professional can prepare their tax return and provide helpful information and advice. Tips for choosing a return preparer and details about national tax professional groups are available on IRS.gov. EITC recipients should be careful not to be duped by an unscrupulous return preparer.

The IRS reminds taxpayers to be sure they have valid Social Security numbers (SSN) for themselves, their spouse, if filing a joint return, and for each qualifying child claimed for the EITC. The SSNs must be issued before the due date of the return, including extensions. There are special rules for those in the military or those out of the country.

Avoid errors
Taxpayers are responsible for the accuracy of their tax return even if someone else prepares it for them. Since the rules claiming the EITC can be complex, the IRS urges taxpayers to understand all of them. People can find help to make sure they are eligible by visiting a free tax return preparation site, or using Free File software or by using a paid tax professional.

Beware of scams
Be sure to choose a tax preparer wisely. Beware of scams that claim to increase the EITC refund. Scams that create fictitious qualifying children or inflate income levels to get the maximum EITC could leave taxpayers with a penalty.

Visit IRS online
IRS.gov is a valuable first stop to help taxpayers get it right this filing season. Information on other tax credits, such as the Child Tax Credit, is also available.

Related items

• EITC Central at www.eitc.irs.gov, helpful resources for IRS partners and others.
• Publication 596, Earned Income Credit (EIC)
• Tax Professionals, another place for valuable EITC resources and assistance.

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WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today assured taxpayers and tax professionals that updates to key federal tax forms and instructions are complete and will be available when Americans begin filing their tax returns.

Most individual taxpayers file IRS Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR once they receive Forms W-2 and other earnings information from their employers and payers. IRS has incorporated recent changes to the tax laws into the forms and instructions, and shared the updates with its partners who develop the software used by individuals and tax professionals to prepare and file their returns. Forms 1040 and 1040-SR and the associated instructions are available now on IRS.gov and are being printed for taxpayers who need a hard copy.

Economic Impact Payments are an advance payment of the Recovery Rebate Credit. Important updates include the Recovery Rebate Credit worksheet on page 59 of the 1040/1040-SR instructions. Anyone who didn’t receive the full amount of both Economic Impact Payments should include the amounts they received, before any offsets, when they file. Anyone who received the full amount for both Economic Impact Payments should not include any information about the advance payments when they file their tax return.

Also new this year is the option to use prior year income amounts when computing the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit. 

The IRS has not yet announced a start date for the 2021 filing season. IRS Free File will open in mid-January when participating providers begin accepting returns. The IRS Free File providers will accept completed tax returns and hold them until they can be filed electronically with the IRS. 

Latest Economic Impact Payments are automatic for eligible taxpayers

This month, the Treasury Department and the IRS are sending the second round of Economic Impact Payments to millions of Americans as part of the implementation of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act.

Taxpayers don’t need to take any action to receive these payments. Economic Impact Payments are automatic for eligible taxpayers who filed a 2019 tax return and those who receive Social Security retirement, survivor or disability benefits (SSDI), Railroad Retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Veterans Affairs beneficiaries who didn’t file a tax return.

These second round of payments follow the successful delivery of more than $270 billion in CARES Act Economic Impact Payments to about 160 million Americans in 2020.
 
Eligible individuals who did not receive an Economic Impact Payment  – either the first or the second payment – can claim a Recovery Rebate Credit when they file their 2020 taxes this year. The IRS urges taxpayers who didn’t receive an advance payment to review the eligibility criteria when they file their 2020 taxes; many people, including recent college graduates, may be eligible for a credit.

Eligible individuals who didn’t receive the full amount of both Economic Impact Payments should claim the missing amount as a credit. Anyone who did receive the full amount for both Economic Impact Payments should not include any information about their payment when they file their taxes – they’ve already received the full amount of the Recovery Rebate Credit as advance payments.

For the latest IRS forms and instructions, visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov/forms.

Please visit IRS.gov for the latest information about the Economic Impact Payments and filing your 2020 tax return.
 

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The IRS and its community partners are looking for people around the country to become IRS-certified volunteers for the upcoming tax season.

These long-standing programs offer valuable help to America’s taxpayers:

• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance offers free tax return preparation to eligible taxpayers who generally earn $57,000 or less, people with disabilities and limited English-speaking taxpayers.
• Tax Counseling for the Elderly is mainly for people age 60 or older. Although the program focuses on tax issues unique to seniors, most taxpayers can usually get free assistance. AARP participates in the TCE program through AARP Tax-Aide.

New processes make volunteering safe and easy To keep everyone safe, potential volunteers can tune in virtually to learn more about the programs, ask questions and find out which volunteer role is right for them.

Some volunteer sites will offer virtual help to taxpayers in place of face-to-face assistance. This allows volunteers to help taxpayers complete their tax returns over the phone or online. Other volunteers will conduct a virtual quality review with the taxpayer before e-filing their tax return.

While virtual volunteering will be an option this tax season, some VITA and TCE sites will still offer in-person free tax help. Safety and social distancing will be emphasized during face-to-face interactions.

There are many available volunteer roles:

• Greeters to help screen taxpayers to determine the type of assistance they need.
• Interpreters to provide language services.
• Tax preparers to use electronic filing software to complete tax returns.
• Tax coaches at some sites, to encourage taxpayers to prepare their own tax returns and help them through the process.

 Other benefits of volunteering include:

• Volunteers can work flexible hours. Volunteers can generally choose their own hours and days to volunteer. The programs are usually open from late January through the tax filing deadline in April. Some sites are even open all year.
• No prior experience needed. Volunteers receive specialized training to become IRS-certified. They can also choose from a variety of volunteer roles to serve taxpayers. VITA and TCE programs want volunteers of all backgrounds and ages, as well as individuals who are fluent in other languages.
• The IRS provides free tax law training and materials. Volunteers receive training materials at no charge. The tax law training covers how to prepare basic federal tax returns electronically. The training also covers tax topics like deductions and credits.
• Tax pros can earn continuing education credits. Enrolled agents and non-credentialed tax return preparers can earn continuing education credits when volunteering as a VITA/TCE instructor, quality reviewer or tax return preparer.

People can sign up through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program by visiting the sign-up page on IRS.gov. Shortly after signing up, interested participants will receive an invite to attend a virtual orientation.

IRS YouTube Video: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Recruitment

Share this tip on social media — #IRSTaxTip: How people can give back by becoming an IRS-certified volunteer. https://go.usa.gov/xArEy 

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