Are YOU a senior eligible for the Circuit Breaker Tax Credit?
ABCD tax preparation helps families save thousands
The Boston EITC campaign is underway across the city. Launched in collaboration with City of Boston, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and a host of partners, Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) neighborhood sites are helping low income families save thousands again this year.
Don't miss out! In the 2012 tax year, more than 94,000 eligible working families in Massachusetts failed to apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit, leaving approximately $1.8 million in unclaimed money in Washington, D.C. when it could have been helping families.
This year Massachusetts leaders and activists want to make sure all eligible persons apply for EITC when they file their 2013 tax returns. In the 2012 tax year, the Boston Coalition prepared 11,500 returns and returned $23 million dollars to taxpayers in credits and refunds. Of that number, ABCD prepared 5,665 tax returns, returning more than $8.5 million to Boston's low-income working families and individuals.
The statewide campaign aims to spread the word regarding the Earned Income Tax Credit and provide FREE tax filing assistance to help people access those credits. EITC is the federal and state income tax credit available to low and moderate-income working families and individuals - it can put up to $6,951 in tax payers.
Households that earned up to $46,227 ($51,567 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children may receive up to $6,951
Families who earned up to $43,038 ($48,378 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children, may earn up to $6,178
Anyone earning up to $37,870 ($43,210 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child, may receive as much as $3,738
A taxpayer without children who earned up to $14,340 ($19,680 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children can receive up to $560
Seniors may qualify for additional dollars via Circuit Breaker Tax Credit
Senior citizens may be eligible to receive up to and additional $1,030 from the State of Massachusetts through the "Circuit Breaker Tax Credit". This credit is available to all eligible seniors who pay unsubsidized rent or property taxes and is retroactive for three years. The "Circuit Breaker" offers a tremendous financial opportunity for those who qualify. It is important to note that seniors must file a tax return in order to receive the Circuit Breaker credit.
FREE tax preparation provided by IRS-trained professional tax volunteers is available throughout Massachusetts for people of low and moderate income at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. Avoid refund anticipation loans (RALS) that offer immediate refund cash at high interest rates. Why pay for services you can get for free?
Use the FREE EITC tax preparation sites, and get your refund in seven to ten days. Beware of high, unnecessary fees and misleading offers. The average cost at a private preparer is $200 and it could be far more. Keep your whole refund! You earned it!
Free Tax-Preparation Sites:
To find a FREE tax preparation site near you visit http://bostonabcd.org/tax-assistance.aspx or call 617-348-6586 or visit one of our participating neighborhood sites.
Financial Futures Initiative
178 Tremont Street
Boston, MA, 02111
(617) 348-6586
Allston Brighton
565 Washington Street,
Brighton, MA 02135
(617) 903-3640
Asian American Civic Association
87 Tyler St
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 426-9492
Dorchester
110 Claybourne Street
Dorchester, MA 02121
(617) 288-2700
East Boston
21 Meridian Street
East Boston, MA 02128
(617) 567-8857
Elm Hill
22 Elm Hill Avenue
Roxbury, MA 02121
(617) 442-5900
Jamaica Plain
30 Bickford Street
Jamaica Plain, 02130
(617) 522-4250
Mattapan
535 River Street
Mattapan, MA, 02126
(617) 298-2045
Parker Hill/Fenway
714 Parker Street
Roxbury, MA, 02120
(617) 445-6000
South Boston
424 West Broadway
South Boston, MA, 02127
(617) 269-5160
South End
554 Columbus Avenue
Boston, MA, 02118
(617) 267-7400
South Side
19 Corinth Street
Roslindale, MA, 02131
(617) 327-1152
Other statewide resources can be seen at www.MassSaves.org.