This week, the Calistoga Family Center, in partnership with United Way, kicks off its annual free tax program, “Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Napa.”

The Family Center will provide free tax-filing help to low-income families through April 13.

Key points about the program:

• During these tough times, there is good news for low-income Napa families — all households that earned less than $52,000 in 2009 are eligible for free tax-filing assistance from “Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Napa.”

• Families that participate in the program can save up to $360 by avoiding fees and “rapid refund” loans promoted by commercial tax preparers. 

• The program will operate eight sites throughout the county — including at the Calistoga Family Center — from now through April. 

• Last year, the program returned more than

$1 million in total refunds to the pockets of Napa County residents and back to the local economy.

• The coalition that runs the program strives to build awareness about the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the nation’s largest benefits program for low-income families, which can return up to 10 percent of annual income for eligible families. Unfortunately, one in four eligible families do not claim this credit.  

• Over the last several years, the EITC benefit has grown significantly, from just over $4,000 to $5,657, the maximum possible credit for 2009. This year, the EITC maximum income eligibility is $48,279; and the maximum possible credit is $5,657. This is most likely the largest lump-sum payment a low-wage, working family (including people who have lost their jobs during the recession) will receive all year.

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