FORT PIERCE - Another tax deadline has passed and St. Lucie County through the Treasure Coast Community Action Agency helped nearly 400 residents file returns eligible for Earned Income Tax Credit.

Those residents received roughly $520,000 in tax returns, thanks to help from St. Lucie County's Community Services Department, the AARP Tax Aide and Volunteers in Tax Assistance. Volunteers worked at several locations throughout the county during this past tax season, offering residents free assistance with their returns and helping them apply for Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

"We've been pleasantly surprised by the nearly 40 percent increase in assistance this year compared to last year," said Stefanie Myers, assistant director of St. Lucie County's Community Services Department. "We really couldn't have done it without the help we had from all our wonderful volunteers."

In 2007, the free volunteer tax service sites filed 290 returns that were eligible for EITC credits, netting $359,899 for area residents. Even though final numbers are still being compiled, through March 31, area tax service sites filed 399 returns eligible for EITC credits, totaling $520,000.

Residents should be aware that if they are eligible for the EITC, they can register with their employers to have the credit paid to them throughout the year (completing a W-5 and submitting it to the employer). They will not get a big credit at the end of the year if they select this option.

To qualify for EITC your earned income must be less than:

· $37,783 ($39,783 for married filing jointly) if you have more than one qualifying child,

· $33,241 ($35,241 for married filing jointly) if you have one qualifying child, or

· $12,590 ($14,590 for married filing jointly) if you do not have a qualifying child.

For advanced income credit, residents must expect to have a qualifying child and expect that your adjusted gross income (AGI) and earned income will be less than $33,995 ($36,995 if you expect to file a joint return for 2008). For more information visit: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3524.pdf.

St. Lucie County's Community Services Department is already recruiting volunteers to help with next year's tax service sites, especially those who speak Spanish and Creole. To find out more about volunteering, contact the Community Services staff at (772) 462-1777.

###