Earned Income Credit Missed by Many

Earned Income Credit Missed by Many

One of the best tax credits available today is the Earned Income Credit but many individuals don’t claim it even when they qualify. These individuals may not have qualified last year but their financial, marital, or dependent situation may have changed making them now qualified.

The tax credit maximum is $5,657 this year and depends on your income and how many dependent children you have in your household. Plus the credit is refundable, which means you can get a refund above the tax your into the treasury during the tax year. Make sure not … Read the rest

Earned Income Credit Missed by Many

One of the best tax credits available today is the Earned Income Credit but many individuals don’t claim it even when they qualify. These individuals may not have qualified last year but their financial, marital, or dependent situation may have changed making them now qualified.

The tax credit maximum is $5,657 this year and depends on your income and how many dependent children you have in your household. Plus the credit is refundable, which means you can get a refund above the tax your into the treasury during the tax year. Make sure not to file separately from your spouse as this will disqualify you automatically.

Having a valid social security number and earned income are two important first steps. And combat pay is considered earned income for qualify for the earned income tax credit. The easiest way to determine if you qualify is by using the EITC assistant at the IRS.gov website. Make sure to apply for this tax credit when you file your taxes if you determine that you are qualified.

Exemptions and Dependents 101

Exemptions and Dependents 101

When preparing your federal 2009 tax return for filing, make sure to know the basic rules about exemptions and dependents. Understand what happens when someone claims you as a dependent or how exemptions affect your return. Your refund will be affected by all these conditions.

To begin with, when someone claims you as a dependent you may still need to file a return. Depending on your income, your filing status, special tax situations, or Advanced Earned Income you will need to file a return to the IRS. Check Publication 501 for exact details about … Read the rest

Exemptions and Dependents 101

When preparing your federal 2009 tax return for filing, make sure to know the basic rules about exemptions and dependents. Understand what happens when someone claims you as a dependent or how exemptions affect your return. Your refund will be affected by all these conditions.

To begin with, when someone claims you as a dependent you may still need to file a return. Depending on your income, your filing status, special tax situations, or Advanced Earned Income you will need to file a return to the IRS. Check Publication 501 for exact details about when you must file.

Exemptions are yourself and your dependents and they reduce your tax bill. The standard exemption is $3,650 but can be phased out when your income reaches certain levels. Now if you are being claimed as a dependent by someone else and you discover that you need to file a return, you cannot take the personal exemption.

Your spouse’s exemption will be claimed on your joint filing and could be claimed on your Married Filing Separate return. If your spouse did not earn any income during the tax year and is not claimed as a dependent by their parents, you can claim them on your separate return.

Other groups that cannot be claimed on your return include non US citizens, resident aliens, and residents of Mexico and Canada. The only exception is for an adopted child where you should consult your tax professional to see if they qualify.