WASHINGTON, D.C. – As tax season approaches, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today reminded all eligible Ohio workers to maximize their tax returns by filing for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Last year, more than 942,000 Ohioans saved more than $2 billion through this federal credit, but thousands of Ohioans miss out on this credit each year by failing to apply.

“Hard-working Ohioans should not be loaning Uncle Sam money,” Brown said. “But when thousands of eligible households don’t file for the Earned Income Tax Credit, they’re missing out on $2,100. With tax day approaching, I want to ensure that each Ohioan receives the biggest refund possible. It is my hope that all Ohio families who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit file for it this year.”

In April 2011, Brown introduced legislation to help more middle-class and low-income Ohioans claim vital tax credits, like EITC and the Child Tax Credit (CTC). The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Act of 2011 is aimed at supporting Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs, which offer free tax help to low-to-moderate income individuals who cannot afford professional assistance.  

Earned Income Tax Credit

The Earned Income Tax Credit is a federal tax credit that may be available to working individuals or families. For the 2010 tax year, the average credit for Ohioans was $2,103. Last year, 942,470 Ohio taxpayers claimed the EITC, returning more than $2 billion dollars to our state's economy.

 

Unclaimed Funds

Millions of dollars remain unclaimed by Ohio taxpayers who are unaware of this important tax credit. The IRS estimates that many Americans who qualified for the credit failed to apply by April 18, 2011. Below is a county-by-county breakdown for the maximum projected number of eligible filers in Ohio who did claim the EITC, using the most recent county tax information available.

County Name

Amount of EITC

Mean Amount of EITC

ADAMS

$7,738,106

$2,329

BROWN

$8,093,702

$2,213

BUTLER

$57,088,737

$2,189

CLERMONT

$28,800,744

$2,119

CLINTON

$8,654,295

$2,157

FAYETTE

$5,905,397

$2,174

GREENE

$22,725,511

$2,017

HAMILTON

$157,359,662

$2,249

HIGHLAND

$8,879,582

$2,225

MONTGOMERY

$108,785,960

$2,268

PREBLE

$6,674,281

$2,105

WARREN

$17,900,919

$1,973

ATHENS

$9,338,794

$1,911

BELMONT

$11,852,599

$2,032

CARROLL

$3,280,543

$2,087

CHAMPAIGN

$6,392,902

$2,129

CLARK

$27,847,705

$2,225

COSHOCTON

$6,561,196

$2,056

DARKE

$7,730,572

$2,051

DELAWARE

$12,942,393

$1,962

FAIRFIELD

$18,539,401

$2,074

FRANKLIN

$247,376,303

$2,290

GALLIA

$6,780,027

$2,292

GUERNSEY

$8,545,420

$2,153

HARRISON

$2,629,627

$1,915

HOCKING

$5,763,879

$2,213

JACKSON

$7,546,886

$2,338

JEFFERSON

$12,177,557

$2,043

KNOX

$9,362,828

$2,069

LAWRENCE

$13,598,053

$2,207

LICKING

$24,584,493

$2,108

LOGAN

$7,927,134

$2,019

MADISON

$6,754,298

$2,098

MEIGS

$4,389,763

$2,210

MIAMI

$16,482,121

$2,084

MONROE

$2,268,654

$2,029

MORGAN

$2,579,597

$2,101

MUSKINGUM

$19,243,310

$2,175

NOBLE

$1,666,534

$1,970

PERRY

$7,636,808

$2,125

PICKAWAY

$7,740,600

$2,142

PIKE

$5,927,822

$2,351

ROSS

$14,610,847

$2,160

SCIOTO

$17,687,034

$2,399

SHELBY

$7,834,314

$2,100

TUSCARAWAS

$17,126,661

$2,025

UNION

$5,033,622

$2,097

VINTON

$2,821,349

$2,316

WASHINGTON

$11,212,650

$2,024

ALLEN

$20,885,828

$2,211

ASHLAND

$7,676,527

$2,030

ASHTABULA

$20,082,118

$2,162

AUGLAIZE

$7,335,680

$1,999

COLUMBIANA

$19,770,000

$2,088

CRAWFORD

$8,679,651

$2,098

CUYAHOGA

$284,006,373

$2,327

DEFIANCE

$6,268,589

$2,063

ERIE

$13,768,755

$2,012

FULTON

$7,059,841

$2,046

GEAUGA

$6,197,597

$1,788

HANCOCK

$10,144,970

$2,016

HARDIN

$5,214,773

$2,099

HENRY

$4,255,110

$2,100

HOLMES

$4,717,971

$2,140

HURON

$13,009,129

$2,136

LAKE

$27,027,991

$1,911

LORAIN

$49,122,791

$2,185

LUCAS

$92,200,376

$2,263

MAHONING

$47,862,179

$2,212

MARION

$13,414,337

$2,241

MEDINA

$16,465,382

$1,898

MERCER

$5,103,999

$1,977

MORROW

$4,842,592

$2,200

OTTAWA

$5,660,851

$1,922

PAULDING

$2,941,725

$2,040

PORTAGE

$20,375,644

$1,911

PUTNAM

$3,789,806

$1,959

RICHLAND

$23,006,903

$2,183

SANDUSKY

$9,850,333

$2,085

SENECA

$10,796,272

$2,044

STARK

$68,491,210

$2,070

SUMMIT

$88,159,428

$2,125

TRUMBULL

$36,364,599

$2,063

VAN WERT

$3,921,470

$2,015

WAYNE

$17,171,255

$2,054

WILLIAMS

$6,838,551

$2,039

WOOD

$13,596,241

$1,875

WYANDOT

$3,877,718

$2,119

   

TOTAL:

$2,052,593,354

 

 

With the April 17th federal filing deadline approaching, Brown encourages all eligible Ohioans to take advantage of the EITC, free online filing services, and the free tax preparation services offered throughout the state.

 

Free Online Filing Services

Ohioans who have access to the internet and gross incomes of $58,000 or less can take advantage of free online filing through the IRS' web site: http://www.freefile.irs.gov/. The IRS Free File Program helps some many Americans each year file their taxes online in a fast, free, and secure fashion. The program gives filers access to tax preparation software that gives them step-by-step assistance toward preparing, completing, and filing their federal tax returns online.

 

Tax Preparation Assistance

Free tax preparation assistance is available at sites across Ohio. For additional information, interested persons should contact the IRS for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) site locators. Call the hotline at: 1-800-906-9887 and enter your zip code for the neatest VITA/TCE site location.

 

More information on eligibility and the filing process for the EITC can be found at http://www.irs.gov/.

 

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