Doing your taxes is not fun and not cheap for most people. There is a better way and it is free to qualifying families using various available tax assistance programs. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) was established by federal law in 1975 and is administered by the Department of the Treasury. EITC is a refundable tax credit that provides a tax break for low to moderate-income workers and families with employment income. The EITC table below shows the maximum credit you can receive based on income level and family size for tax year 2024.
| Number of Children Claimed | Single/Head of Household or Widowed, Income Must be Less Than | Married Filing Jointly, Income Must be Less Than | Maximum Federal Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $19,104 | $26,214 | $649 |
| 1 | $50,434 | $57,554 | $4,328 |
| 2 | $57,310 | $64,430 | $7,152 |
| 3 or more | $61,555 | $68,675 | $8,046 |
Tax Assistance Programs
Free assistance to prepare and file your federal income tax return is available from a number of organizations and programs. You can choose which one is best suited for you. They include:
Direct File was a permanent IRS tax filing option that allowed tax filers to electronically file their federal tax return for free directly to the IRS. The program began as a pilot for the 2023, expanding in 2025 to include 25 states. The program was discontinued due to opposition from tax preparation companies and some Republican members of Congress. The Trump administration informed state tax officials in a letter sent in early November. Its elimination was part of the so called Big Beautiful Bill.
You can do your own taxes online with an IRS Free File provider. If your household’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is $84,000 or less, you may qualify for their Guided Tax Preparation Service. A Free File Fillable Forms service is an option for household’s with any income level. To obtain free tax preparation services you must start searching for a tax provider at the Free File page. If you go to a for-profit company’s website first, you may be charged a fee. You decide which software company to choose.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people who generally make $67,000 or less. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide also provides in-person and virtual tax assistance. Visit the IRS VITA/TCE Locator Tool to find a local site near you. Most sites do not open until late January, some requiring appointments, some offering in-person visits. Call ahead.
Philadelphia based non-profit Campaign for Working Families provides volunteer tax preparation outreach to residents of Philadelphia, Camden, and Vineland via in-person and virtual services. CWF is currently recruiting volunteer tax preparers for the 2025 tax season..
United Way offers MyFreeTaxes.com. For visit their website at the start of tax season, usually in January.
Other resources & outreach
Agencies and organizations interested in promoting EITC are encouraged to visit the links below. Low and moderate-income workers can choose from these resources to learn more.
- Get It Back Campaign, sponsored by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
- EITC Central has tools and information for IRS partners, community organizations, employers, government agencies and offices and tax preparers.
- EITC Assistant Use this calculator to determine if you are eligible for EITC.
- IRS Publication 596, Earned Income Credit
- IRS2Go, is an official and free mobile app of the IRS. You can check your refund status, find free tax preparation assistance, etc. Available at Google Play and the Apple Store.
- Join EITC Awareness Day on January 31, 2025 to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
- NJ EITC Marketing Toolkit
A few facts worth considering…
- In 2023, 23 million workers received about $57 billion in EITC, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
- The average amount of EITC received nationwide is about $2000.
- Unfortunately, one in five households are not claiming EITC, leaving about $10 billion on the table
- Tax assistance programs, such as VITA, can save you up to $300 when you file for free.
- Filing electronically is the safest, fastest, and most accurate way to file your tax return.
- Twenty-eight states offer residents an earned income tax credit in 2023.
Last updated: January 30, 2025, November 22, 2025
Michael Swayze's Community Resources 