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/.
###