Tax Assistance Offered at Annual Event

With tax season right around the corner, Little Rock residents can receive free tax return assistance and check whether they qualify for the Earned Income Tax credit at the annual Super Saturday event taking place Feb. 4.

This year’s Super Saturday, called such because it always happens the day before the Super Bowl, will be from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds Arts and Crafts Building. While reservations are not required, those wishing to secure a time may call 501-682-0228.

“So many residents qualify who may not even know it,” Mayor Mark Stodola said. “It’s worth it to find out, because the EITC helps working families and boosts economic development by injecting those funds back into our community.”

The Earned Income Tax Credit is for low- to moderate-income workers. According to the IRS, four out of five eligible workers, self-employed people, and farmers claim and receive their Earned Income Tax Credit. Many workers may also qualify for other tax credits. 

“We're a 21st century company that still operates on values our founder Harvey Couch once espoused - provide reliable power to our customers while helping build Arkansas through economic investment,” Entergy Arkansas President and CEO Rick Riley said. “Our ongoing collaboration with the EITC Coalition demonstrates Entergy's commitment to empowering families and growing our communities. In fact, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has recognized Entergy's Super Tax Day initiative as the best economic empowerment program in the country.”

This year, married couples with incomes of $53,505 or less from wages, self-employment or farming might qualify for the EITC.

Last year, more than 27 million eligible workers and families received more than $67 billion in EITC; with an average EITC amount of about $2,455. In Arkansas, the average EITC amount was $2,660 in 2016.

The theme for this year’s Super Saturday is the resurgence of refund anticipation loans, which are interest bearing loans and not a quicker way of receiving refunds from the IRS.

Residents can find out if they qualify for the EITC or another tax credit at https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/use-the-eitc-assistant

To help preparers accurately determine EITC eligibility and prepare returns, individuals should bring the following items, and both spouses must be present to sign joint returns:

• Photo proof of identification
• Social Security cards for themselves, their spouse and all dependents claimed
• All income statements including forms W-2 and 1099, Social Security, unemployment, and other statements such as pensions, stocks, interest and any documents showing taxes withheld. Self-employed participants will need records of all their income
• All records of expenses including tuition, mortgage interest or real state taxes. Self-employed participants will need records of all their expenses
• Copies of their prior year federal and state returns, if available
• Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit of their refunds
• Dependent child care information, including name and addresses of those who were paid for the services, including caretaker’s Social Security Number or other tax identification number.

The EITC Coalition includes the City of Little Rock, the Arkansas Workforce Development Board, Entergy Arkansas, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Central Arkansas Development Council, among others.