81R5762 BPG-D
By: Villarreal H.R. No. 193
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Many Texas families are confronting financial
hardship as recession grips our nation, making it vitally important
that all those eligible take advantage of the federal Earned Income
Tax Credit; and
WHEREAS, Enacted in 1975, the EITC is a federal tax program
that provides a credit on income earned to working families of low
to moderate means; each year, the EITC helps more than 450,000
Texans while injecting billions of dollars into the economy; and
WHEREAS, The EITC can be worth up to $4,824 for families whose
members worked in 2008 and earned less than approximately $38,000;
workers not raising children can also qualify if earnings fell
below about $13,000; the average EITC refund in the Lone Star State
is approximately $2,000; and
WHEREAS, In order to claim the credit, an eligible worker
must file a tax return, even if that individual did not earn enough
money to be required to file; although tax forms may seem daunting
and commercial preparers may be costly, low-income citizens can
take advantage of free filing help from such sources as the
IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and
Community Tax Center sites throughout Texas, which can be located
by calling the 2-1-1 system; and
WHEREAS, Nationwide, more than 23 million eligible families
and individuals claimed EITCs worth over $44 billion in 2007, but
millions more failed to file; the Department of the Treasury is
partnering with other agencies to raise participation in the
program and is reaching out to educate the public with such
initiatives as its third annual EITC Awareness Day; and
WHEREAS, For a family struggling to pay medical bills, stave
off foreclosure, or keep up with household expenses, Earned Income
Tax Credits can be a crucial lifeline; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize January 30, 2009, as Earned Income Tax
Credit Awareness Day in Texas and urge all citizens who may be
qualified to explore their eligibility for this program and claim
any credits they have earned.