Governor O'Malley Promotes Awareness For Tax Relief Programs
Encourages Maryland Families to Take Advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit;
Apply for the Federal Economic Stimulus Payment
ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 27, 2008) – Governor Martin O’Malley today joined Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, representatives of the IRS, and the Baltimore CASH Campaign to ensure that all eligible Maryland residents take advantage of the State and Federal income tax credit and other tax relief programs.
“We know these are not easy times. Even though our workers are producing more, wages have stagnated while the cost of everything rises,” Governor O’Malley said. “I want to encourage Maryland’s working families to take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit and to apply for the Federal economic stimulus payment. These significant tax benefits can provide immediate relief.”
“The slowdown in the national economy has affected many families in Maryland and here in Baltimore,” said Mayor Dixon. “I appreciate Governor O’Malley’s effort to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit, and I encourage Baltimore families to take full advantage of the tax credits that are available to them.”
Last year, Governor O’Malley and the General Assembly worked together to expand the Maryland Earned Income Tax Credit to provide additional support for working families that can be combined with the Federal Earned Income Credit to maximize the assistance offered to Maryland’s dedicated workforce. During the 2007 tax year, families eligible for the Federal and State credit can receive as much as $5,600, depending on income and family size, and those figures will rise during the 2008 tax year due to an expansion of the program made lat year. Statewide figures for unclaimed Maryland Earned Income Tax Credits are estimated to be as high as $110 million.
“The nearly $30 million in credits that go unclaimed by Baltimore taxpayers is money that can heat homes, feed families, and education children here in Baltimore,” said Council President Rawlings-Blake. “We owe it to the working families of Baltimore to ensure they get every penny they are entitled to.”
In past years, eligible Maryland filers have claimed over $162 million in credits from the Maryland EITC program.
“It is so important to make sure that all people that are eligible for tax credits, especially the EITC and the economic stimulus, know how to file correctly for them,” said Joanna Ramani, Director of the Baltimore CASH Campaign. “Baltimore CASH is working with all of the region's elected officials to ensure that no money is left on the table and that Baltimore's working people have all of the resources they need to support their home and their neighborhood.”
“We want to encourage every eligible individual to come out before the end of the tax filing season and to take advantage of the EITC and the economic stimulus payment,” said Julie Garcia, Director of Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC) from the IRS. “For millions of Americans, filing a tax return is not routine. Normally their income is either too low or not taxable. But this year, filing a 2007 tax return is the only way to receive an economic stimulus payment. Super Saturday is one way the IRS and its partners are working to ensure everyone eligible receives a stimulus payment.”
In addition to the Maryland EIC, Governor O’Malley also stressed the importance of communicating all available tax benefits, including the Child Tax Credit and the 2008 Economic Stimulus Tax Rebate.
Marylanders who need assistance or have questions regarding their personal tax situation should call 1-800-492-0618.
