Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 7, 2004
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact: Kristin Alexander, Employment Security Department, 360-902-9307
Locke wants more Washington citizens to know that they may qualify to get money back from the federal government through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC).
“You can get money from the federal government, even if you don’t owe them any money,” Locke said at a news conference promoting the program.
Last year, the EITC put more than $537 million into the pockets of Washington workers, which in turn helped the state’s economy. To claim the money, the families need to file for it. Last year, Washington experienced a 16.5 percent increase in EITC dollars claimed over the previous year.
“The people of Washington work hard and they should keep as much of those earnings as possible to provide for themselves and their families,” Locke said. “The EITC rewards them for working.”
“Millions of federal dollars are going unclaimed by deserving families in Washington – money that could help them pay their bills and put food on the table – simply because they don’t know the credits are available,” Locke said.
A married couple with two children and a combined income of up to $34,692 can qualify for the EITC. So can a single person with one child who earns up to $29,666. A single person with no children who earns up to $11,230 can also qualify.
“I knew I’d be getting some money back, but I had no idea it would be so much,” said Courtney Schmidt, 26, of Aberdeen, who, along with other EITC recipients, joined the governor at the news conference. Schmidt, the single mother of a 1-year-old daughter, received $3,200 from the EITC. She used the majority of the money to buy furniture, new tires and repairs for her car, and clothes for her daughter. She also paid for car insurance for six months. She plans to save the rest of the money.
Naomi Gross, 26, of Morton is getting $2,195 from the EITC. “I’ve been a single mom for two years, so it’s come in really handy,” Gross said. “I used the money to buy a used car so I could drive to school and to work to support my two children.”
Don Brunell, president of the Association of Washington Business (AWB), also joined the governor at the news conference. “The EITC has demonstrated over the past several years that it can bring substantial federal dollars back into our state,” he said. “This program rewards hard-working citizens, and is good for the economy because these families use the money to buy groceries, clothes and other necessities. We commend the governor for his campaign to make folks aware of the EITC and we hope people will apply for it.”
The state provides free resources to help low- and moderate-income families take advantage of the EITC and CTC. This year, the state is also offering free online tax filing for families who qualify for the EITC, enabling them to get quicker returns.
The WorkSource Web site at www.go2worksource.com includes a link to free Web-based software program called I-CAN!, available in English and Spanish, that helps workers electronically prepare taxes. The program can be printed at any WorkSource center and mailed to the Internal Revenue Service.
The Northwest Justice Project (NJP) helps administer the software. “We’re pleased to participate in a project that makes it easier for low-income people to file for the Earned Income Tax Credit,” said Joan Kleinberg with the NJP. “I-CAN! is a free and user-friendly way to return this money to low-income wage earners. Frequently, having a little extra money available helps people solve or avoid some of the problems for which they need the NJP’s assistance. The EITC is a simple way to obtain that money.”
In addition to the free software, the state operates a toll-free hotline to provide information about the EITC. The hotline number is 1-800-755-5317. Calls are answered 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Hearing impaired persons can call 1-800-844-6388 for TDD/TYY. The state is also reaching out to low-wage families, employers and community organizations through phone calls and direct mail to inform them about the tax credits.
The amount of the tax credits depends on family size and gross income. For example, a single parent of two children who works full-time may get $4,026 – or a 28 percent boost to annual income. A single parent working part-time with one child may get $2,474 – the equivalent of four months of earnings.
Related Links:
- Governor's Web site
- Workfirst Web site
- Internal Revenue Service
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 7, 2004
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact: Kristin Alexander, Employment Security Department, 360-902-9307
Gov. Gary Locke Promotes State’s Effort to Help More Washington Families Get Federal Tax Dollars
With the April 15 tax deadline approaching, Gov. Gary Locke today promoted the state’s increased efforts to help low- and moderate-income families obtain money from the federal government – money that gets pumped back into Washington’s economy.Locke wants more Washington citizens to know that they may qualify to get money back from the federal government through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC).
“You can get money from the federal government, even if you don’t owe them any money,” Locke said at a news conference promoting the program.
Last year, the EITC put more than $537 million into the pockets of Washington workers, which in turn helped the state’s economy. To claim the money, the families need to file for it. Last year, Washington experienced a 16.5 percent increase in EITC dollars claimed over the previous year.
“The people of Washington work hard and they should keep as much of those earnings as possible to provide for themselves and their families,” Locke said. “The EITC rewards them for working.”
“Millions of federal dollars are going unclaimed by deserving families in Washington – money that could help them pay their bills and put food on the table – simply because they don’t know the credits are available,” Locke said.
A married couple with two children and a combined income of up to $34,692 can qualify for the EITC. So can a single person with one child who earns up to $29,666. A single person with no children who earns up to $11,230 can also qualify.
“I knew I’d be getting some money back, but I had no idea it would be so much,” said Courtney Schmidt, 26, of Aberdeen, who, along with other EITC recipients, joined the governor at the news conference. Schmidt, the single mother of a 1-year-old daughter, received $3,200 from the EITC. She used the majority of the money to buy furniture, new tires and repairs for her car, and clothes for her daughter. She also paid for car insurance for six months. She plans to save the rest of the money.
Naomi Gross, 26, of Morton is getting $2,195 from the EITC. “I’ve been a single mom for two years, so it’s come in really handy,” Gross said. “I used the money to buy a used car so I could drive to school and to work to support my two children.”
Don Brunell, president of the Association of Washington Business (AWB), also joined the governor at the news conference. “The EITC has demonstrated over the past several years that it can bring substantial federal dollars back into our state,” he said. “This program rewards hard-working citizens, and is good for the economy because these families use the money to buy groceries, clothes and other necessities. We commend the governor for his campaign to make folks aware of the EITC and we hope people will apply for it.”
The state provides free resources to help low- and moderate-income families take advantage of the EITC and CTC. This year, the state is also offering free online tax filing for families who qualify for the EITC, enabling them to get quicker returns.
The WorkSource Web site at www.go2worksource.com includes a link to free Web-based software program called I-CAN!, available in English and Spanish, that helps workers electronically prepare taxes. The program can be printed at any WorkSource center and mailed to the Internal Revenue Service.
The Northwest Justice Project (NJP) helps administer the software. “We’re pleased to participate in a project that makes it easier for low-income people to file for the Earned Income Tax Credit,” said Joan Kleinberg with the NJP. “I-CAN! is a free and user-friendly way to return this money to low-income wage earners. Frequently, having a little extra money available helps people solve or avoid some of the problems for which they need the NJP’s assistance. The EITC is a simple way to obtain that money.”
In addition to the free software, the state operates a toll-free hotline to provide information about the EITC. The hotline number is 1-800-755-5317. Calls are answered 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Hearing impaired persons can call 1-800-844-6388 for TDD/TYY. The state is also reaching out to low-wage families, employers and community organizations through phone calls and direct mail to inform them about the tax credits.
The amount of the tax credits depends on family size and gross income. For example, a single parent of two children who works full-time may get $4,026 – or a 28 percent boost to annual income. A single parent working part-time with one child may get $2,474 – the equivalent of four months of earnings.
Related Links:
- Governor's Web site
- Workfirst Web site
- Internal Revenue Service
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