Most taxpayers have either already received, or will soon receive, their W-2 tax forms, and that means tax preparers enter their busy season.
Tammy Lail has been a certified bookkeeper in Myrtle Beach for more than 20 years. She's seen the job market change drastically.
"We've seen a lot of people with unemployment,” said Lail. “They just don't understand how to... They'll try the calculator or whatever programs that's out there, and they just can't get it."
If her client worked at all during 2011, Lail checks to see if they qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit or EIC.
"What it does is it gives you that extra money to help boost up the economy and to help give a little more money to live on."
To qualify for the EIC, one must have a Social Security number, earned income at some point in the previous year and can not use the married, filing separate status. There is also a limit to how much you can make.
Lail said the qualifications can change from year to year, and that can keep some from not receiving the money.
"There could be years that you can, and other years that you won't. But the one thing that has not changed in four or five years is that you have to work. You have to have a W-2 or be something like a sole proprietor. You have to earn an income to get the income credit.">
Since filing your taxes can be very expensive, the United Way has a program that offers free tax services to anyone that qualifies.
"Its volunteers in the community that get trained by the IRS,” said Julie Kopnicky, director of the Horry County United Way. “They sign a confidentially sheet to make sure none of the information is shared. And they train and they work hours at night to do free taxes for anybody who makes $49,000 or less."
No matter where you go to get help filing, Lail encourages everyone to bring the necessary documents.
To find out where you can get you're taxes done for free by United Way volunteers and what documents are needed, click here.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement