The Harford Community Action Agency, which assists impoverished and low-income residents with housing, utilities, food and more, is partnering with the county government to make sure working families receive every dollar of tax credits to which they are entitled.
One of more than 1,000 such community agencies nationwide dedicated to fighting poverty, the Harford nonprofit will help eligible wage-earners obtain an average $1,700 from the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.
"This money goes right to the people who need it," said Donald W. Mathis, president of the national Community Action Partnership. "It is not a handout or charity. It is dollars they have earned and are getting back. It will get dollars back into the economy and make a real difference in people's lives."
The program could mean as much as $12 million to the local economy, officials said.
"We want to get the word out and spread it to as many people as we can," said Judy Mason, the Harford agency's director.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance workers, trained in IRS procedures, can assist with applying for the credit and are also offering free tax filing assistance at six sites throughout the county.
"If you are a low-income taxpayer, you don't have to pay to get your taxes filed," Mason said. "For the next 10 weeks, we have trained volunteers available."
Mason said about 70 volunteers will help seniors and eligible wage-earners save money on tax preparation and filing electronically, so that refunds could be in their hands in as little as 10 days.
Appointments are required, with one exception: This Saturday, volunteer tax preparers will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 206 E. Courtland Place, Bel Air.
Claiming the credit could help low-income families with affordable housing, reliable transportation, higher education and child care, Mason said.
Yet nearly 20 percent of taxpayers across the nation who are eligible for the credit do not claim it, including about 2,500 Harford residents, officials said.
"They are missing out on about $3 million in tax credits," Mason said. "This is money they can access, money that already belongs to them."
Residents living with children can qualify if they earned less than $38,000 in 2007; single wage-earners who make less than $13,000 annually qualify.
The income qualifications can extend to foster parents, grandparents raising their grandchildren, parents of children with disabilities and those who fall into several other categories. Eligible workers who did not apply in the past can still file for the credit going back as far as three years ago.
"Any program that helps people keep their money is a good program," Craig said.
For more information, the agency has established an outreach hot line at 410-638-3567. To schedule a tax preparation appointment, call 410-638-3425.
mary.gail.hare@baltsun.com