If your household income is below $40,000, you may be eligible to have your tax return filed for free!

Additionally, if your income for 2007 was below $37,783 (single) or $39,783 (married), you may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit, a Federal tax benefit for people who work. If eligible, filing a 2007 tax return could result in you receiving a tax credit of up to $4,716.

There are tax preparation sites across Maine, staffed with IRS trained and certified volunteers, open mid-January through March, that can eFile your return at no cost to you. The trained volunteers are up to date with the latest tax law changes. They are on-site to help ensure your taxes are filed correctly and include all the deductions and credits to which you are entitled.

To find the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site closest to you, call 211.

In addition, there are seven EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) Coalitions across the state that can do more than file your tax returns. These Coalitions offer, also at no cost, access to financial budgeting and savings workshops, homebuyer classes and programs, family development accounts, classes in starting and growing a small business, and much more. Most Coalitions hold a Super Refund Saturday where walk-ins are welcome, and a host of service providers are on-site to answer questions.

To find out if there is an EITC (CA$H) Coalition in your area, call 211.

According to the IRS, during tax year 2005, there were 84,754 Maine individuals and families that received EITC amounting to $138,751,877, and it is estimated that up to 25% of eligible taxpayers did NOT apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit.