Office of Communications

Valid Through April 15, 2009

For Immediate Release

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Agents: The WVU Extension Service is among public and private agencies encouraging low-wage families to apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit. You may adapt this article to reflect the availability of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites in your community. For details, visit the Web ( www.wveitc.com) or call 2-1-1, which is the toll-free connection to community services in West Virginia. Please adapt this column to complement your media needs.

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It’s tax time. That means that you—and some of your friends and family—may be eligible to receive up to $4,824 in Earned Income Tax Credit from the Internal Revenue Service.

EITC is a tax credit for people who work but don’t earn high incomes. If you are between the ages of 25 and 65, you may qualify for EITC if you made less than $42,000 in 2008.

In fact if you are eligible, you can claim EITC for three years back. But to receive a check in a few weeks, you must file with the IRS soon.

You don’t have to pay someone to prepare the forms for you. Free help is available.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance ( VITA) sites provide free tax preparation. The sites are located throughout West Virginia during tax season. If you wish, your return can be filed electronically and deposited into your bank account within seven to 10 days.

The IRS estimates that each year eligible West Virginians leave millions of dollars unclaimed.

For eligible families, EITC dollars could be used to pay bills, repair homes and cars, open savings accounts, increase savings and improve lives in many ways, according to _______________, an educator with the _________ County Office of the West Virginia University Extension Service.

_________ said that WVU Extension is working with organizations throughout the state to encourage low-wage individuals and families to apply for EITC.

To learn more about EITC and to locate a tax preparation center near you, visit the Web ( www.wveitc.com) or call 2-1-1, which is your toll-free connection to community services in West Virginia.

—WVU-ES—

fsm— 3/13/09