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Tax Credit

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Submitted By bobbya
Words 600
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According to the American Progress Organization, http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/01/eitc_101.html Congress originally approved the tax credit legislation in 1975 in part to offset the burden of social security taxes and to provide an incentive to work. The earned income tax credit was also responsible for significant declines in poverty and economic gains during the 1990’s.
The earned income tax credit is a refundable tax credit that has been designed for those individuals who are at an economic disadvantage within the workforce. This credit provides tax equity to the working poor which allows the taxpayer to be reimbursed for certain federal taxes such as gasoline and social security taxes. For example, this credit would be able to compensate for the costs of transportation.
To qualify for the earned income credit, one must
Have a valid social security number
Have earned income from employment or from self-employment
Not have a filing status of married, filing separately
Be a U.S. citizen or resident alien all year or a nonresident alien married to a U.S. citizen or resident alien and filing a joint return
Not be a qualifying child of another person
Cannot file form 2555 or 2555-EZ related to foreign earn income
Meet these income thresholds: $38,646 ($41,646 married filing jointly) with two or more qualifying children; $33,995 ($36,995 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child; $12,880 ($15,880 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children.

John and Sandy’s total earned income filing jointly totals $33,000 ($25,000 (Sandy’s income) + $8,000 (John’s income). Sandy’s $10,000 employee compensation is not qualified as earned income. The textbook states that earned income includes employee compensation and net earnings from self-employment but excludes items such as interest, dividends, pension

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