ࡱ> U@ "bjbj 9::$FJ J J P F2 (    HJJJJJJ$RM"4n\Y@\\n  U   \RR  H \H 0 Ph" 0?dJ 4d40t#"# $8# +h TunnFFJ FFJ Media Relations Office Washington, D.C. Media Contact: 202.622.4000  HYPERLINK "http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/index.html" www.IRS.gov/newsroom Public Contact: 800.829.1040 IRS Urges Taxpayers to Review EITC Eligibility IR-2004-12, Jan. 20, 2004 WASHINGTON The Internal Revenue Service today urged working taxpayers with low incomes to review their eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit to see if they qualify for tax relief. This year, the IRS and 14,000 volunteer sites are available to help taxpayers figure out their eligibility. The IRS receives the majority of EITC claims in February, usually after workers receive their Forms W-2. EITC recipients may also qualify for free tax preparation and e-filing through Free File, which is located on IRS.gov. This is an important program, and you should check to see if you qualify," said IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson. EITC rules can be complicated so you should carefully review the qualifications. Know, dont guess, if you are qualified. If in doubt, contact the IRS or its volunteer partners for help. If someone prepares your taxes, seek out a reputable professional who understands EITC rules and who will avoid common mistakes. EITC eligibility rules can be found in Fact Sheet 2004-8, in Publication 596 and through links at 1040 Central on IRS.gov. For tax preparers, there is a new EITC information kit at  HYPERLINK "http://www.irs-eitc.info/preparer/" http://www.irs-eitc.info/preparer/ and a new EITC tool kit in Publication 3107E. For the 2003 tax year, income limits have increased. Taxpayers must earn less than $33,692 if they have two or more qualifying children, $29,666 with one qualifying child or $11,230 if there are no children. Income limits are $1,000 higher if a couples filing status is married filing jointly. The maximum refundable credit for the 2003 tax year is $4,204 for a family with two or more qualifying children, $2,547 for a family with one qualifying child and $382 if there are no qualifying children. Many taxpayers qualify for less than the maximum, depending on their income. The IRS also reminded military families that many of them may also qualify for EITC because supplemental payments and combat pay are exempt from the income calculations. The EITC was enacted in 1975 to offset federal taxes paid by low-income wage earners and to serve as a work incentive. Last year, more than 20 million taxpayers collected more than $36 billion in EITC payments. The IRS is broadening its outreach to EITC claimants in an effort to maximize participation and minimize errors on tax returns. The IRS is taking several steps, including: Working with more than 180 community-based organizations nationwide to reach low-income workers who may be unaware of the EITC availability; Helping set up 14,000 volunteer centers that offer free tax preparation for low-income and elderly individuals. Times and locations of these volunteer centers are publicized locally; Coordinating with mayors offices nationwide to help identify low-wage earners who may qualify for EITC; Teaming with a special grassroots cadre in two target cities Los Angeles and Miami to reach out to taxpayers who have limited proficiency in English but who may qualify for EITC; and Providing additional EITC tools to tax practitioners who must perform due diligence when preparing tax returns. The IRS also has consolidated all EITC management activities within a single EITC office. The office will coordinate EITC program administration in an effort to improve the accuracy of tax returns and to improve the agencys internal processing procedures. EITC claimants also are urged to consider electronic filing, especially through Free File which will offer free tax preparation and e-filing to millions of taxpayers. Free File will be operational in mid-January. E-filing, either through Free File or through a tax professional, will help reduce math errors that can delay a refund. Taxpayers who e-file and use direct deposit will receive their refund in two weeks or less. 30 IR-2004-12, Jan. 20, 2004 Page  PAGE 1 MORE FG{|}h i    "컱hr)hmHnHujhr)Uh hr)hhr)0J^Jjhr)U hr)0Jjhr)Ujhr)Uhr)jhr)CJUmHnHuF"  /Y23(((((((((((S(v:$a$$a$  |)p]p  0*|)p]p! !"$a$ 1h/ =!`"#$% 1h/ =!`"#$%n"]S.PNG  IHDRp9m2`PLTEij}}qqwfff__]UUULLLDDD;;;333,,*$$" "vbKGDHgIFg>U cmPPJCmp0712HsIDATx^] sG%gڝ~[!Gxêm E@UUihu~$Q#5 4ï_Oat$ն QYb53[@Z*n2R5řY S/NEɫ:r'Z^ 5g~cb;u[9VKp[kh6jn*Z@; [0}~LLNR51 o`r 5{ݘ64IR@չFEWMWL,RObܫӶKco{ jwh|%يG4peԗgp&͠k["]7ZUĤԗvoFu@n 4sd>ohX2մsu#,d8fhr8ͷ +vN@倴6Xm}:op[H!S0%t#f9\}^&2y*~%<8S4lǖk|XDM[[X}շ3_*YqX ~Upv3s8@كs m_@6kapj,l?l;T+gk!IF{)UնVy쬳'bbV-٨:~W]Y`ѱ\ّ x|p`+yZ!Q066ڢZ{ۻ_wsJk ᜲD6@U5c]<<[|vgϝu~,$4u&`aĝ۫ŵQ 13pS-Po9ENW-̹A /!D# SM<%-1u1lg(xu~4@_PNףּ*FL3=z'lF7񴳶;n6;bcC%y#c֚, X+j6r>`<2w~ +˃Bmjcz6C~As#.Z9\]xCSbI7iNeͤs 65q4g7rÚgPyjM$_ .]FyhA4PTDܣW4P4P4P4P4P4P4P4P4P40E o'g&7f EOZ4zv56M(5lv=qfZ4VpY?wR[(tluI4ʋ ̞*'"jJTr48PY^XkCŸM ]hv~ViG¬a2@c`= ?ַYo5Iݾ };%܆.X#_mxqgv&a1ANb{њ,& hHݶz?|}1-tYט9Հ)T0{w tD"zx:oG_ާZpfBXj+#cM{ ?HZq\d8vθtn骰G;k-7Sր D=3MBG!Q\uC1|X>}oB.5@i4 LUJTf ס: ۇ{F$L_ׇ[O[wsjFi<322mpNJد3sZNg7cϰQP=8ʔklOpT {9e10Wҥ(K56шy:Ofǟhebc͠S$LYZ˝8&R5W +ha,'kCz8y50p5-OĜm}_97"=2tH~*6x~L ^-g"w /MGo;%d5po8_6YeޙAcqtvN.~AQZNhEç.X : տ_z`o-fGK+q.r_R| c5S30Y8/xί ƼnvozgW(2="lyJgL`GKpϢ"4pc8qṿSx9~ZgykV/,]:9snWdN'p7j6;Tڙt8VNdoVobIQטϊ"s}|;&ҝ~&QϫaHN-( Rl{a֛:9?Y23u mJhHSv^pN&~:BEVW% 6c)e$; 8$Xs{#tbq]?i&)fv? ݃ѝ!?*:}bE {Sk.U׶5ev,Oă˲V:.@58C#c{HO:G2igv˸]TL2wmt](Sɺ9$(ƻ|'󚽍VMf,g/)vAC=)[`pNj*;!~-$,9a5s!4ur$S΢;0J paÜ5耋}{SoԶG#v ilk/\uMN |%zӷ*/wjlckzx3^q֢ ?u6bҒzb&i8#_!U:K2Ҕ #jx;8klYT L -Zg> yj&JZ-= i=D$Hk)8wj 0c6t^lX\qV;On~]e>Tx gU"-wš` `ãz 6}R1SѰLB[h}tMMqhw[v!R(4x7%ZڄqmZW`;@4 t޲2O=pWi8LWKgpٹ2H)wRη]dDR`"Y"/ _;{OB8QTcD`WaB vX]4moN*:O)=Ll35SD6ѤZCj$ LmfRb~gXTa+ۻJԇwF0[zPu,ɽ$*܂q&?Ƭ(e\3ֻQWwgaze ` *X(ׄ84x6x&z{=\7bF4{)%%r ߵH2kՍ~lpl[r~zXY$=ʋWti]Aixb^iM^ik&DlS6(a؛yu:YUם㮘Y;arzT[8[3OEI2?6^aZ)<#}Y8g/جxKV&cMWHAߦScB^sG_ee6pn}skKL ^Z Yvפh|@lб?]XQ:'p•ۏ q0tOT`<>;{Q\ohkO^@s sJzudB K{PZ5ANްԾ*8+HμM5>nD۪Qkܙ6%.3JT/:U3y;=a{Fi o-\z)W_Mi^:Nd,NgصpŢ8*B*phbORb News Release Bullet 1 & FZ]OJQJjObj News Release Footer$ !Za$5CJOJQJ\nOrn News Release Header" !-&d P  CJOJQJFVF FollowedHyperlink >*B* phbb News release subscribe$]a$\44 Header  !hQh News Release Bullet 2# & F ^`4 @4 Footer  !" """""F"/ Y  2 3 #0000000000000 0 0 0 0 0000 {00 {0013q {00h8X< {000@k ;0 ;0 ;0 ;0--777777999<" "!F|h"XX!(*<!?b$"]S.D"$2$-=bj>  .<F\@(  l   0t t  r  C BA*news release graphicB S  ?"0(T X M0*it )L(*'+|',(-$.$/)0 )1 (2%F F V V # #))Q Q [ [ # 8*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsdate9*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsState8 *urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsCity9 *urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsplace 1202004DayMonthYear   F #<I#33## Tim HarmsLDDinh00Dg3(iWcRXhHOO@d@d_ GmVT$m ʶ   3'."System3'(er0P '-Y@"Arial- 2 '3IR.y 2 w'3-+82 '32004]\]\ 2 !'3-+8&2 Y'312, Jan. 20, 2004 ]]..S]]..]]..]]]]- 2  '3+ 2 6 '3 +. 2 d '3P+o2  '3age ]]]. 2  '31+] 2 u '3 +Y3'- @ !L"I-'Y@"Arial- 2 1 '3+2 1'3 MORE .yo. 2 1'3+ 2 1'3 +\3''8@Times New Roman-,2 '3Media Relations OfficeYd8Y2Y7Y78ddN2BB8YY 2 % '3 +Q#2 v'3Washington, D.C.YNd8dd8dd1223 2 '3 +42  '3Media Contact: 202.622.4000Yd8Y2dd7YY882ddd2ddc2dddd 2 b%'3 +[3'- @ !"-- @ !" -'- )2 '3www.IRS.gov/newsroom2Co2ddd8dYNCdc- @ !  -  2 '3 +L52 '3Public Contact: 800.829.1040odd88Y2dd7YY882ddd2ddc2dddd 2 b%'3 +[3'- @ !" -'@"Arial-P2 C .'3IRS Urges Taxpayers to Review EITC EligibilityAA\A[ANAAAAAAAAABAO 2 '3 +8@"Arial-2 \('3IR8 2 \'3-+C2 \3'32004oooo 2 \'3-+C%2 \2'312, Jan. 20, 2004op88doo88oo78oooo 2 \<'3 +l2 #('3WASHING82 #'3TON z8 2 # '3+m2 # A'3 The Internal Revenue Service today urged working taxpayers with i8zoo88o8oCoo,7odoopo8oCd,do88oood8oCooo8oCd,oo88ocopdoCd8,8o82 (X'3low incomes to review their eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit to see if they ,o8,oeood88o8Cod,o78oo,C8o,,o-o,-,8d88oC78oo8oCooo88odoo8zoc8Coo,888o8doo8,888ood72 (\'3qualify for tax relief. This year, the IRS and 14,000 volunteer sites are available to help ooo-,8d88oC77oc8Co,-o888zo,d8dooC888no888ooo8oo8ooo8do-oo8ooC8d,8od8oCo8odo,,po,o88o8oo,o82 ('3taxpay8ocood=2 t!'3ers figure out their eligibility. oCd88-ooCo8oo888no,C8o,,p,o-,,9d8 2 %'3 +k2 (X'3The IRS receives the majority of EITC claims in February, usually after workers receive zoo888Codo,dod88oo8o-oC,8d8n878z8d,o,d8,o8zooCooCd88odoo,,d8o88oC8oCdnCd8Codo,do72 ( '3their Forms W8oo,C8zoCc8 2  '3-+Cn2 S B'32. EITC recipients may also qualify for free tax preparation and eo788z8Cod,o,oo8d8od8o,do8ooo,,8d88oC88Boo88oc8oCopoCo8,oo8oop8o 2  '3-+C2  '3filing 8,,,oo8P2 h(.'3through Free File, which is located on IRS.gov8oCoooo8zCoo8z,,o88o-do8,d8,odo8oo8oo888ood 2 h"'3.+8 2 hZ'3 +k2 /(U'3This is an important program, and you should check to see if you qualify," said IRS vCzo,d8,d8oo8,ooC8oo88oBooCo88ooo8doo8dooo,p8doodd88o8coo8,88doo8ooo,,8d8G8do,p888|2 (K'3Commissioner Mark W. Everson. EITC rules can be complicated so you should o,dd,pooC8oCd788doCdno88C8z8Co+od8doo8oo8doo,,do8oo9do8doo8dooo,o82 (['3carefully review the qualifications. Know, dont guess, if you are qualified. If in doubt, doCo8o,,d8Cod,o88oo8opo,,8,do8-ood88oo88oop,88ooodd88,87doo8oCo8ooo,,8,po88878,o8oooo8882 ('3condoo2 jV'3tact the IRS or its volunteer partners for help. If someone prepares your taxes, seek 8od888on888oC8,8c7do,oo8ooC8poC8ooCd88nC7oo,o88888dnoooo8oCoooCod8dooC78ocod88dooe82 (R'3out a reputable professional who understands EITC rules and who will avoid common oo88o8Cooo7oo,o8oCo8oed,oop,8oo9ooooCd8oopd88z8Co,od8ooo8oo8,-,8odo,o8eooo72 ( '3mistakes.,d8odod8C 2 '3 +j\2 s(6'3EITC eligibility rules can be found in Fact Sheet 20048z8o,,p,p-,,8d8Co,od8doo8oo88oooo8,o8zod88opo88oooo 2 s'3-+C,2 s'38, in Publication 596 o88,o8oo,,eo8-oo8ooo82 s  '3and through oop88oCoooo72 Y(Y'3links at 1040 Central on IRS.gov. For tax preparers, there is a new EITC information kit ,,,odd8o88oopo8oo8Co,8oo888ood87zoC88oc8oCoooCoCd888ooBo8,d8o8oo88z8,o8oCo8,oo8d,872 ? ('3at o88-  2 ? '3http://www.irso88n8888,Cd 2 ? '3-+C(2 ? '3eitc.info/preparer/9o,8d8,o8o8oCoooCoB8- @ ! T - P2 ? .'3 and a new EITC tool kit in Publication 3107E.8ooo8o8oo88z88oo,8d,88,o8oo,-do8,oo8oopo8 2 ? '3 +k(2 "('3For the 2003 tax ye9zoC88oo8oooo88oc8dok2 " @'3ar, income limits have increased. Taxpayers must earn less than oC87,odoo8,,-8d8oodo8,odCoodoo88zodoodoCd8od88ooCo8,odd88ooo72 "(X'3$33,692 if they have two or more qualifying children, $29,666 with one qualifying child ooo8ooo8,888ood8oodo88o8oC8oCn8ooo,,8d,po8do,,oCoo88poo8ooo8,8p8ooo8ooo,,8e,oo8do-,o82 #(Z'3or $11,230 if there are no children. Income limits are $1,000 higher if a couples filing oC8ooo8ooo8,888ooCo8oCo7oo8do,,oCop888odoo8,+,8d8oCo8on8ooo8o,oooD8,88o8dooo,o-d88,,,oo8 2 $('3status is marrd8o8od8,d8oCC)2 $ '3ied filing jointly. ,oo88,,,op8-o,o8,d88 2 $]'3 +j2 &(W'3The maximum refundable credit for the 2003 tax year is $4,204 for a family with two or zoo8oc,o8Co8ooooo,o8dCoo,888oC88oo8oooo88oc8dooC8,d8oo8ooo88oC7o88o,,d8,8o88o8oC72 e'(Z'3more qualifying children, $2,547 for a family with one qualifying child and $382 if there oCo8ooo,,8d,oo8do-,oCpo88oo8ooo87oC8o88o,,d7,8o8ooo8opo,,8d,po8do,-o8ooo8ooop8,888ooCo7b2 K((:'3are no qualifying children. Many taxpayers qualify for lesoCo8oo8ooo-,8d,oo8do-,oCoo88ood87ocpodoCd8ooo,,8d88oC8,od)2 K('3s than the maximum, d88ooo88on8oc,o8822 1)('3depending on their income.ooooop,oo9oo88oo,C8,odoo8 2 1)'3 +k2 *(T'3The IRS also reminded military families that many of them may also qualify for EITC zoo888o-do8Co,oooo8,,,8oCd88n,,,od88oo88ood8o888no8od8o,co8ooo,,8d88oC88z7w2 +(H'3because supplemental payments and combat pay are exempt from the income oodoodo8dpoo,ooo8o-8oodoo8d7ooo8doop88ood8oCo8ncoo888Co88oo8,odoo8 2 ,('3calculations. do,do-o8,opd87-- @ !4E- -'%- 2 ?A% +['A pR"X(pwqq}}LLL;;;333"$$fffDDD]__" UUU*,,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            '-33''33''33''33''33''33''33''33''33'' 3 3' '  3 3' '  3 3' '  3 3' '  3 3' ' 33''33''33''33''~3~3''}3}3''|3|3''{3{3''z3z3''y3y3''x3x3''w3w3''v3v3''u3u3''t3t3''s3s3''r3r3''q3q3'' p3 p3' ' !!o3!o3'!'!!""n3"n3'"'""##m3#m3'#'##$$l3$l3'$'$$%%k3%k3'%'%%՜.+,D՜.+,d hp  -US TREASURY DEPARTMENT{  IR-2003-DMedia Relations Office Washington, D.C. 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