Taxes

If you try to file your tax return and your e-file is rejected, take the following steps:

• print your return for paper filing (you cannot e-file your return)

• gather your proof, as explained below (read all the way down), staple the proof to your return

• mail it all immediately to:

Department of Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

Fresno, CA 93888

Keep a copy of everything for your records, along with a notation of your mailing date

Please be advised that this quick guide is a summary of many complicated dependency and proof rules enforced by the IRS. Following this guide, however, may assist you in obtaining your refund more quickly than engaging in prolonged correspondence with the IRS.

Please be advised that the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic at Legal Aid of Arkansas, Inc., does not prepare current year tax returns.

You must prove you lived with your child at your address in the U.S. for more than half the year. You must also prove how you are related to the child. EITC is limited to only a few direct and provable family relationships.

You must show that your child lived with you:

• the best proof is school records for your child that have your name as the parent or custodian and show the child’s address
• the dates on the document must be for more than six months of the year
• but, if you moved and you and your child lived at another address, you need to send documents showing the same address for both of you during the tax year
• or if your child is too young to attend school: you can send in copies of medical records or a statement from the daycare provider

You must prove how you are related to the child:

• you must send birth certificates that show the relationship (and these also prove age)
  • to show a niece, for example, you need to include your sibling’s birth certificate and the niece’s birth certificate

Do not send duplicate documents for EITC and for dependency.

To claim a dependent, you must show:

• the dependent lived with you for more than half the tax year (with some exceptions)
  • send the same documents as EITC above
• you supplied more than half of the dependent’s support
  • do not send proof with the return, but be prepared to prove it

If your only dependent or qualifying child is the one in questions, you will also need to send proof of support to show that you are head of household.

• send your lease for the year of the return
• send at least one dated utility bill in your name