Grants From The IRS

The IRS Will Send 3.5 Million Families a Check for Up To $4,300, If They Only Ask*
… Okay, it’s not really a grant, but it looks like a grant, it walks like a grant and it even smells like a grant. They are called tax credits. It’s extra money the IRS will give you that’s better than a refund because they will give it to you even if you don’t pay any taxes. You just have to have some income and the less income you have the bigger the check you get. You can make up to $35,458 and still be eligible.

Free Publications
IRS Publication 596, Earned Income Tax Credit
Call: 1–800–829–3676
Download: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p596.pdf

Free Tax Services…
… Don’t pay professional tax preparers money when you can have an income up to $35,000 or even more and get your taxes prepared for free. The service is called Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). No matter what your income, the service may be able to help you. To find your local VITA program contact your local public library or your Congressman’s office at www.congress.org. You can also call the IRS hotline at 1-800-TAX-1040. Also see http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=119845,00.html

Free Legal Help With Tax Problems…
… Families can have incomes up to $50,000, or more even, and get free lawyers to solve your tax problem. There are over 115 Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITC) that will help you with legal problems for free. You should check the availability of services in your area no matter what your income is. To find a clinic near you contact your local public library or your Congressman’s office at www.congress.org. You can also try the IRS hotline at 1-800-TAX-1040. See also http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/pub._4134-04.pdf

Get Free Tax Help For Seniors…
… with a grant from the IRS. The AARP organizes over 8,000 “Tax Counseling For The Elderly” sites around the country that specialize in providing free tax help for people 60 and over. They may also provide free help for others, so it can’t hurt to ask. To find a site near you, call the TCE hotline at 1-800-829-1040 or the AARP Tax Aide hotline at 1-888-227-7669 or visit http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/pub._4134-04.pdf or http://www.aarp.org/money/taxaide/. You can also contact your local public library or your Congressman’s office at www.congress.org.

The Government Will Fight The IRS For You…
… If you have attempted to deal with an IRS problem unsuccessfully, you should contact your Taxpayer Advocate. They will represent your interests and concerns within the IRS by protecting your rights and resolving problems that have not been fixed through normal channels. They can clear-up problems that resulted from previous contacts and ensure that your case is given a complete and impartial review. Call 1-877-774778 or www.irs.gov/advocate.

Get a $2,000 Check From Your State…
… You can claim anywhere from an additional 5% to 50% of what you get from the federal Earned Income Tax Credit from your state government. About 18 states currently offer this credit as well as a handful of local jurisdictions. Contact one of the free tax services described above or you state tax office located in your state capital. You can call 411 and ask for this number or go to www.govengine.com and click on your state. You can also contact your local public library or your Congressman’s office at www.congress.org. Also see: http://www.cbpp.org/5-14-04sfp.pdf

$1,000 Check For Each Child…
… The new federal Child Tax Credit gives working people making up to $110,000 a check for up to $1,000 even if they don’t pay taxes. Look into it. Use the free tax sources above or call 1-800-TAX-1040. You can also go to: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=106182,00.html

$2,100 Check For Child Care…
… This federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit is for child care for kids under 13 or for caring for dependents mentally or physically incapable of self-support. You can get a tax credit up to $2,100 depending on your income and the amount you pay for care. Unlike the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, you get this check only if you are paying taxes. Use the free tax sources above or call 1-800-TAX-1040. Or go to: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=106189,00.html

$2,310 Check From Your State For Child Care…
… Twenty-seven states offer Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit on your state tax returns. About 14 of these states do not require you to pay any taxes in order to get a check. Contact one of the free tax services described above or your state tax office located in your state capital. You can call 411 and ask for this number or go to www.govengine.com and click on your state. You can also contact your local public library or your Congressman’s office at www.congress.org. Also see: http://www.nccp.org/policy_long_description_15.html or http://www.nwlc.org/pdf/NWLCTaxCreditsOutreachCampaignToolkit2005.pdf.

$1,500 Check For Going To College…
… You can make up to $100,000 and the government will send you a check under the federal Hope Scholarship Tax Credit if you are at least going to college part-time. It’s only for the first two years of college and you have to be paying taxes to get the money. Use the free tax sources above, call 1-800-TAX-1040 or go to: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96271,00.html.

$2,000 Check For Taking A Course Or Class…
… Almost any kind of course that will improve your job skills are eligible under the federal Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. You can make up to $100,000 and still get this credit, but you have to be paying taxes to get the money. Use the free tax sources above, call 1-800-TAX-1040 or go to http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96273,00.html

$5,000 Check To Pay For Health Insurance…
… The federal Health Coverage Tax Credit is a bit more complicated, but it will pay 65% of health care insurance for people who lost their job because of imports or are receiving certain retirement benefits. Use the free tax sources above, or call 1-800-TAX-1040 or go to http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=109960,00.html

$1,125 Check For Seniors Or Disabled…
… The Tax Credit for Elderly and Disabled is for citizens who are older than 65 or disabled. Your eligibility is based upon your income. Use the free tax sources above, or call 1-800-TAX-1040 or go to http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p524.pdf

$10,160 Check For Adoptions…
… As an adoptive parent you may be able to receive a tax credit up to $10,160. The income limits on this go up to $192,390. Use the free tax sources above, or call 1-800-TAX-1040 or go to http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc607.html

$30,000 Check From Your State…
… In addition to the state tax credit programs mentioned above, every state has other tax credits programs that can send you real money for taking advantage of them. Sample programs include:

Contact your state Department of Revenue or Taxes to see what is available in your state. You can call 411 and ask for this number or go to www.govengine.com and click on your state. You can also contact your local public library or your Congressman’s office at www.congress.org.

* http://www.acorn.org/fileadmin/ACORN_Reports/National_EITC_Report_-_Final_version_01.pdf
* http://www.robinhood.org/programs/initiative_details.cfm?initiativeId=5
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earned_Income_Tax_Credit

Ask Lesko…
Geoff submitted this week’s question:

“Is there a limit to how many grants a single person may apply for?”

Answer: Apply to as many programs as you can. The worst that can happen? Everyone gives you the money you ask for… That’s a very nice problem to have. There may be some programs that will restrict you from applying to other programs. But they are rare, so don’t worry about that until someone tells you should. Life is a numbers game, the more programs you apply to the higher your chances are of getting the money. For a listing of over 15,000 sources of grants and other government money programs see http://www.howtogetagrant.com/grgrant1.

Send your questions on government grants to dixiestjohn@earthlink.net. If we choose your question to feature in our newsletter we’ll send you a copy of the bestseller, “Gobs and Gobs of Free Stuff!”

Want a Fresh Start This New Years…?
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See Me Live In Baltimore on January 29th….
… and get your grant questions answered in person! Learn the facts about how to apply for and get a grant. Reserve your seat at www.howtogetagrant.com/grseminar1.