Tax Tips 2010 - 2011

Tax Law Changes
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided a temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children and increased the beginning point of the phase-out range for the credit for all married couples filing a joint return for 2009 and 2010. The Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2010 extended these changes to 2011 and 2012.
The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act of 2010 repealed the Advance EITC. It is no longer available to workers. Individuals who received Advance EITC during any tax year must file a tax return to report the payments even if they owe no tax or are not otherwise required to file.
Tax Year 2010 Income Limits
Earned income and adjusted gross income (AGI) must each be less than:
• $43,352 ($48,362 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children
• $40,363 ($45,373 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children
• $35,535 ($40,545 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child
• $13,460 ($18,470 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children
Tax Year 2010 maximum credit:
• $5,666 with three or more qualifying children
• $5,036 with two qualifying children
• $3,050 with one qualifying child
• $457 with no qualifying children
Investment income must be $3,100 or less for the year.
The maximum Advance EITC workers could receive from their employers during 2010 was $1,830.
Preview of Tax Year 2011
Earned Income and adjusted gross income (AGI) must each be less than:
• $43,998 ($49,078 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children
• $40,964 ($46,044 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children
• $36,052 ($41,132 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child
• $13,660 ($18,740 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children
Tax Year 2011 maximum credit:
• $5,751 with three or more qualifying children
• $5,112 with two qualifying children
• $3,094 with one qualifying child
• $464 with no qualifying children
2011 Investment income must be $3,150 or less for the year