"It’s Your Money,
Come and Get It!"

Nationwide, the EITC – which could be called a reverse income tax – lifts more than 4.8 million people out of poverty each year. Yet, 230,000 New York City workers don’t claim the EITC even though they’re entitled to it. If every eligible New Yorker were to get the EITC that’s rightly coming to them, half a billion dollars would be poured into the City’s economy each year.

As to who is eligible for the EITC, anyone with a social security number who worked for any period of time in 2004 and earned less than $40,000 may be eligible. This included persons who worked part time, only part of the year, or are unemployed now, as well as the self-employed, such as childcare workers and taxi drivers. What’s more, those eligible for the EITC can also qualify for other tax credits, including a Child Tax Credit of up to $1,000 per child and credits for childcare and education expenses.

As to the income limits, individuals without children must have earned less than $20,000 in 2004 to qualify. Individuals with dependent children must have earned less than $40,000 in 2004 to qualify for the credit. A person must file a tax return in order to receive the benefit.

So how do you apply for the EITC? From January 24^th to April 15^th, you can go to any one of Money Central’s twelve free tax preparation sites and receive help in filing your taxes and applying for the EITC. Money Central, which has locations throughout the five boroughs, is run by the Community Food Resource Center with the help of its partner organizations. In the Bronx, Money Central has locations in Fordham, the South Bronx and Hunts Point. In Brooklyn they are in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Downtown and Sunset Park. Manhattan locations are in Harlem, Midtown, and Washington Heights. In Queens you’ll find them in Jackson Heights and Jamaica. In Staten Island there is a Money Central in Saint George.

Money Central also has Mobile Tax Preparers who travel to low-income communities that may be difficult to service through the twelve Money Central locations. The preparers come equipped with printers and computers and will prepare taxes on site.

When you go to file for your Earned Income Tax Credit, you must bring your photo ID, Social Security Card or ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers) for all your family members. Also bring your W-2s for all jobs you held in 2004 and any other tax-related documents. And, if you want your refund to be deposited directly into your bank account, bring a sample check from your account.

To obtain further information about Money Central locations, hours they are open and what to bring, call the toll free number 1 (866) 924-3758 (1-866-WAGEPLUS).