The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contains several middle-class tax benefits for Floridians as they work on their 2009 federal income taxes. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor is making a new tool available on her Web site that will help taxpayers learn more about possible tax credits that might apply to them. The tax tool can be found at /
 
“This easy-to-use tool, developed by the White House and accessible on my Web site, will let you learn with just a few clicks about eligibility for the Making Work Pay Tax credit, the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and others. Times are tough right now. Along with President Obama, I have worked for tax relief for hard-working Florida families. We need to ensure that taxpayers learn about all the credits to which they may be entitled. This tax relief will put money back in the pockets of my neighbors and into our economy to spur job growth.”
 
The tax credits include:
Making Work Pay: Credit of up $400 for individuals, or $800 for married couples filing jointly.
American Opportunity: Credit of up to $2,500 for college expenses.
First-time Homebuyer: Credit of up to $8,000 for first-time homebuyers.
Energy Efficiency: Credit of up to $1,500 for homeowners who made energy-efficient improvements.
New Vehicle Purchases: Credits for state and local sales taxes for new vehicle purchases.
Earned Income Tax Credit: Credit of up to $5,657 for families with three or more children
Child Tax Credit: Credit of up to $1,000 per child.
 
See the tax tool for more details about eligibility.
 
Last month, Castor held two tax workshops to offer assistance to taxpayers filing their income taxes. Participants met one-on-one with tax experts who helped them find out whether they qualify for various tax credits. She also has met with constituents regarding the tax rebates of 2008. As a Hillsborough County Commissioner, Castor helped launch the Prosperity Campaign, a regional collaboration of public, private and nonprofit organizations to help teach low- and moderate-income working families about financial matters, including tax credits.