Oklahoma tax experts spread awareness on earned income tax credit

Posted: Apr 2, 2021 / 06:51 PM CDT

Updated: Apr 2, 2021 / 06:50 PM CDT

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Tax experts across Oklahoma City are hoping to help Oklahomans who might qualify for a tax credit.

“I think taxes are always a little scary and mysterious to most people,” said Andy Moore, Community Ambassador for OKC Tax Help.

That feeling of unknown is what prompted an effort to educate Oklahomans on the ‘Earned Income Tax Credit’ or EITC for short.

This effort is spearheaded by the folks at OKC Tax Help.

This federal tax credit is working for working adults and families that make less than $57,000 a year.

“If you don’t know about it, you might not claim it,” said Moore. “If you don’t, then we just leave that money in Washington, D.C., when it could be here in your wallet being used for things that you need.”

You could earn up to $6,000 back.

It’s something he says 20% of eligible Oklahomans don’t know about.

So two years ago, OKC Tax Help started this campaign, offering free EITC filing assistance.

Last year, they were able to increase the filing for the EITC by eight percent.

“Which doesn’t sound like much, but that translates to over $12 million of money that came back into our local economy, but specifically came back to the pockets of the Oklahomans who need it most,” said Moore.

They’re also working to target our minority communities.

“In general trends, minority communities have lower adoption of some of this stuff,” said Moore. “This isn’t just a tax credit for people who live in northwest Oklahoma City. This is a tax credit for everyone who has an earned income of $57,000 a year or less.”