Ruppersberger Encourages Tax Filers to Use Free Prep Clinics

(Timonium, MD) – Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) is encouraging Maryland residents to take advantage of IRS-certified volunteers who provide free one-on-one tax preparation help to seniors and other middle-income filers at clinics around the state.

Dozens of IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly centers across Maryland are open until the April 15 deadline to file individual federal taxes. Generally, the centers are open to filers ages 60 and older or who earn $51,000 or less a year. In addition to tax filing, volunteers can answer questions about pensions and retirement.  Residents can find a tax assistance center near them at www.irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep.

“During these tough economic times, we must do everything we can to ensure hard-working Americans know what tax benefits are available to them,” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “Every dollar counts, especially now, and these volunteers can help Maryland families get the tax refunds they are entitled to.

Congressman Ruppersberger is also calling attention to two tax benefits available to lower-wage working families that can increase the amount of their tax refunds.  As many as 25 percent of workers eligible for tax credits including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) fail to claim them each year, leaving hard-earned money on the table.

The EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-to-moderate income working individuals and families. The CTC is a refundable tax credit that gives taxpayers a tax credit for each qualifying child under the age of 17. The tax credit generally is worth $1,000 per child.