Celebrating taxes? IRS kicks off 'EITC Awareness Day'

The new formula for the Earned Income Tax Credit could mean larger refunds for millions of taxpayers, many of whom may be eligible for the first time because of the difficult economy.

The Internal Revenue Service and community partners nationwide today [Jan. 30] kicked off “EITC Awareness Day” to promote a tax credit that could be a critical financial lifeline to many Americans this year.

The EITC “awareness day” is tied to the deadline for employers to send workers their W-2 Forms, which is used to file tax returns. Also, more than half of all EITC claims are filed in February.

The credit was created in 1975 in part to offset the burden of Social Security taxes and to serve as a work incentive. The amount of the credit varies but it is generally determined by income and family size.

The agency also announced many of its Taxpayer Assistance Centers will be open on some Saturdays in February to help taxpayers who are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Last year, nearly 24 million taxpayers received approximately $48 billion from EITC. The average EITC amount was $2,000.

Difficult economic times may mean more people are eligible for EITC, because of reductions in their income last year.

Many Americans experienced financial hardships last year. People may be eligible for EITC for the first time and really should check out their eligibility. This is a significant credit that can make their lives a little easier,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.

IRS research indicates that even in better times, one in four eligible taxpayers failed to claim Eaterned Income Tax Credit.

Eligibility factors

Eligibility requirements can be complex. Those missing out include people who have earned income but may not have a filing requirement, non-English speaking workers, non-traditional families, the homeless, childless workers and rural residents.

For example, people over age 65 usually are not eligible. However, if they are raising a grandchild who meets certain requirements, they may be eligible for EITC.

Workers who do not have a child or who do not live with their own child may be unaware that they still are eligible for a credit.

Military families also have the options of calculating combat pay or leaving it out, whichever may be more beneficial.

For the 2008 tax year, the maximum EITC is $4,824 for a family with two or more children; $2,917 for a family with one child and $438 for a childless taxpayer. (Please see Fact Sheet 2009-9 for all eligibility requirements.)

Generally, to be eligible for EITC, your earned income and adjusted gross income (AGI) each must be less than:

• $38,646 ($41,646 married filing jointly) with two or more qualifying children;

• $33,995 ($36,995 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child;

• $12,880 ($15,880 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children.

The maximum amount of investment income is $2,950 for tax year 2008.

For families, there also are certain requirements that must be met for child residency and relationship.

Also, unemployment benefits are considered in adjusted gross income (AIG) calculations, but are not considered earned income.

“The IRS wants all eligible taxpayers to claim this important tax credit. We also want people to know that free help is available. There are thousands of volunteers staffing free tax-help sites nationwide. And many professional tax preparers donate their time and services to low-income taxpayers,” said Shulman.

Tax Assistance Centers opening Saturday

The IRS will open 172 Taxpayer Assistance Centers beginning Saturday January 31. The special Saturday assistance also will be available on Feb. 7 and Feb. 21.  A list of centers for EITC Awareness Day is available at IRS.gov, under “Contact My Local Office.”

EITC claimants are eligible for free tax preparation services provided at nearly 12,000 volunteer sites nationwide. They can also use Free File through IRS.gov if they wish to prepare their own returns. Free File offers a choice of free tax preparation software or fillable forms and free electronic filing but only through www.irs.gov.

Nearly 70 percent of all EITC returns are prepared by a third party or tax professional. Tax preparers and taxpayers can find a wealth of information at EITC Central, which includes statistics, online tools and marketing products. Both also can use the EITC Assistant, which is an easy-to-use interactive tool to help determine if the taxpayer is qualified for EITC. The EITC Assistant also is available in Spanish.

for more details:

http://mansfield.htnp.com/areawide/01302009_irs_eitc_awareness_day.html

B as Cnnectd as Ur Kids R!

iParent Network – a ‘virtual town square’ for Mansfield, Ashford and Willington – to be launched in September 2009.

iParentNetwork, a Web site currently in development, plans to offer 21^st century technology tools to get parents talking to one another, and providing support and encouragement to each other, to help kids grow up in safe and healthy ways.

One of the goals also is to bridge the “digital divide” between parents and their children, who are often much more experienced with the new communication technologies.

The iParentNetwork is funded by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and is one part of an initiative to create a prevention framework for young people. A Steering Committee coordinates the development of this Web site and other initiatives.

This project began with a committed group of parents, teachers, professionals and other community members who came together to brainstorm ways to collectively help keep kids safe and healthy.

They collected information and spoke to many others in the community, and discovered that the tri-town area of Mansfield, Ashford and Willington has a substantially higher rate of alcohol and substance abuse than the state average. They wanted to know why, and to find ways to make changes.

They also learned that parents have many other concerns they want to talk about with other parents.

The three towns share a regional high school, but parents said they find it difficult to make new connections with other parents once their child reaches high school.

After researching this topic for a year, the committee determined that the best way to bring about meaningful and lasting change is to give parents a way to feel – and in fact, to be – more connected to each other, and provide access to information and resources on a range of topics of interest to parents.

The i-Parent Web site is meant to create a “virtual town square” where members of the three communities can meet and “talk” to one another about the challenges of being a parent; compare tips and strategies with others and learn from experts; get information about what’s happening in town; find a babysitter or a play group; talk about curfews – and much more.

The iParentNetwork will be a living Web site connection that will grow to become what its members want it to be.

Interested community members can visit one of the next meetings, which are held on the third Thursday of the month. Or contact the Project Coordinator Ruth Freeman at PositiveParent@earthlink.net.

Or you can join the iParent Network and to stay informed about its development and launch, by sending your email address to postitiveparent@earthlink.net.

for more details:

http://mansfield.htnp.com/news/01302009_i_parent_network.html

Our new columnist shares tips on 'Creating color in the winter garden'

To use conifers as accent plants or specimens in the landscape, look for an interesting shape or colorful foliage. Colors can range from dark green to light green, blue-green, gray or silvery-blue, and into the brighter color of golden yellows or creamy white hues.

[Editor's note: Please welcome our new columnist, Cheryl Pedemonti, who will contribute items periodically in which she shares her expertise and her passion for gardening. You'll also see she's a wonderful photographer- Brenda Sullivan ]

Most people think the gardening season ends with the first freeze here in New England, but I disagree. With careful planning, your landscape can include a colorful garden throughout the winter months.

We spend the cold winter days inside the house, looking out at the garden through the window. I suggest you begin your winter garden design from the inside looking out and place your garden where it can be seen from strategic windows, such as the family room or dining areas.

And entry areas should always include plants that offer four seasons of interest.

What makes a good candidate for the winter garden? There are many plant attributes to consider, such as colorful stems and bark; ornamental grasses in a variety of heights; persistent fruit; and trees or shrubs with interesting branching patterns or shapes.

Evergreens with colorful foliage add interest to the garden year round, but will become especially important during winter.

If your garden looks good during the barren winter months, you know it will look exceptional the rest of the year when everything is in bloom!

Evergreens serve many uses in the garden

When planning your garden, it is important to have a 50/50 mix of evergreens and deciduous plants (those that lose their leaves in winter).

The deciduous plants will offer flowers and colorful foliage, fruit and stems throughout the different seasons.

Evergreens serve a utilitarian role such as creating backdrops, windbreaks, hedges or using them as “filler” plants between deciduous shrubs in the foundation planting.

You can use a mix of broadleaf evergreens (Mountain Laurel, Rhododendron, Holly, etc.) and needle-leaf evergreens (conifers) to complete the 50 percent ratio of evergreens in the landscape.

The term “conifer” refers to a needle-leaf evergreen that produces cones such as Pine, Spruce and Hemlock.

If you want to use conifers as accent plants or specimens in the landscape, look for something with an interesting shape or colorful foliage. Colors can range from dark green to light green, blue-green, gray or silvery-blue, and into the brighter color of golden yellows or creamy white hues.

The foliage color may change with cooler temperatures and may darken to shades of bronze, maroon, orange or yellowish green.

Junipers are useful for their alternating foliage color depending on seasonal temperatures.

Shape can be as interesting as color

Evergreens come in a variety of sizes and shapes to fit every purpose, thereby creating a lot of interest in the winter garden. When snow covers the evergreen foliage, it will amplify the shape of the plant or create additional textures in the garden.

Use small, mound shaped evergreens near entryways or patios to better appreciate their shape when blanketed with snow.

Low growing, prostrate shrubs can be used as groundcovers or to add interest to hillside plantings or draped over the top of a retaining wall to soften the edges.

Upright pyramidal evergreens become accents in the mixed border or use these shrubs on the corners of the house foundation.

You will find many ideas for your own garden by looking at photos in gardening books and magazines, or by visiting public or private gardens.

A fountain of grass

Don’t forget to leave room in your garden for ornamental grasses. They come in different colors and sizes, so you are sure to find one you really enjoy. A few favorites include ‘Yaku Jima’ Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis) and ‘Hameln’ Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides).

Ornamental grasses create movement in the garden and make a rustling noise with the slightest breeze. They will turn a warm wheat color in cold weather and makes a nice contrast to the evergreens in the landscape.

Thank you for reading my gardening column! I look forward to offering you inspiration to create a four-season garden that will look wonderful all year long.

Upcoming articles will give you ideas for low-maintenance landscapes and plant profiles on my favorite perennials, shrubs, and trees for the four-season garden.

If you would like to read about something in particular, please send email to cheryl.pedemonti@yahoo.com or leave your suggestion in the comment section below my article.

Happy gardening!

For more details: http://mansfield.htnp.com/columns/columns_gardening/

01312099_pedemonti_gardening.html