Taxes

If you have a low income, there are lots of reasons to file your taxes! If you file your taxes in 2008 (taxes for 2007), you could get up to $5,000 or more back from the government-- even if you did not pay that much in taxes!

You may qualify for

• the federal Earned Income Tax Credit,
• the Massachusetts Earned Income Tax Credit,
• the Child Tax Credit, plus
• the Economic Stimulus Payment, the 2008 one-time rebate of up to $600 (single) or $1200 (couple).

If you qualify for all of these things, it can add up to thousands of dollars!

Get free help filing your tax returns from Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).  Search by zip code for a free tax clinic near you, or call 1-800-829-1040.

It is best to file your tax return before the deadline, which is April 15, 2008.   But  you may be able to get some or all of these payments even if you file late (after April 15, 2008).  Read the articles in this section for more details, and talk to a  Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteer for advice.