EITC: "It was quick, easy and FREE!"

’Tis the season to file your taxes! But that doesn’t mean it has to be a paperwork nightmare or even cost a penny to file. Oh—and how does an extra refund of up to $5,657 sound?

That’s what thousands of Central Floridians will be eligible to claim this year through the Earned Income Tax Credit—or EITC—which is credited with lifting more kids out of poverty than any other federal program.

Heart of Florida United Way has been helping promote awareness of the EITC program, which last year put $395 million back in the hands of low- to moderate-income families and individuals across our region. Money like that also provides a big boost to local businesses where EITC dollars are typically spent.

And claiming EITC is quick, FREE and easy. AARP and the IRS have provided more than 30 locations within Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties where reliable, honest help is available at no cost to those who need it most.

We recently visited one of those locations at the Sanford Senior Center where people had been arriving to get their taxes filed since 8 a.m. WFTV Action 9 Reporter Todd Ulrich interviewed Brittany Richards, United Way Community Investment Senior Manager, to spread awareness of the EITC benefits and free tax prep sites.

As the interview came to an end, I met a family whose husband earned just $13,000 in 2009. By claiming an EITC credit of $3,500, he boosted his overall refund to approximately $4,800. He signed the paperwork and even opened a free bank account on the spot so he could receive his refund even faster.

Later on he told us that last year he had gone to a paid tax prep site and spent several hundred dollars to have his taxes filed. It was a much better experience for him this year, which he stated in six simple words, “It was quick, easy and FREE!”

Just like that his tax season became a holiday instead of a hassle. So spread the word about EITC and the free tax prep sites. In these tough times, an extra $5,657 can make a huge difference to people who are struggling to make ends meet.

Leo Vilenskiy is a UCF student and intern for United Way