Tax time

Whether you have a professional prepare your income tax return or you just do it yourself, there are a couple credits out there applicable to low-income workers.

Low- and moderate-income workers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). In order to qualify, a taxpayer must have had earned income from employment or self-employment. The EITC does not affect qualification for social services such as SSI, food stamps, and Medicaid. Click here to learn more about the maximum allowable incomes based on family size.

The Making Work Pay credit was incorporated as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Individuals may be eligible for a credit up to $400, while married couples may receive up to $800 back. Those who received a $250 Economic Recovery Payment will have their credit reduced by that same amount. (Social Security recipients, for example, received an Economic Recovery Payment.) Pensioners don't qualify unless they earned income last year.

Please keep these two credits in mind not only for yourselves this tax season, but for your respective service populations as well.

Also, if you do choose to prepare your own taxes, be sure to visit the IRS website first for a list of Free File online preparers who provide free services for those with an adjusted gross income less than $57,000.