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Top 10 Overlooked Credits
Select an item from the list below:
Adoption Credit
Child and Dependent
Care Credit
Child Tax Credit
The Additional
Child Tax Credit
Earned Income
Credit
Hope and Lifetime
Learning Credits
Tuition and Fees
Deduction
Retirement Savings
Contributions Credit
Credit for Excess
Social Security Tax or Railroad retirement Tax (RRTA) Withheld
Foreign Tax Credit
Adoption Credit
If you adopted a child, you may be able to take a credit for qualified adoption expenses of up to $13,360 per child. If you adopted a special needs child you may claim a credit of $13,360 regardless of your expenses. The credit is phased out if your adjusted gross income is over $185,210.
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Child and Dependent Care Credit
If you were working and had dependent care expenses for a dependent child under
age 13 or for a dependent or spouse who is disabled, you may be able to claim a
credit for these expenses. This nonrefundable credit is calculated based on your
dependent care expenses and your income. The maximum credit is $1,050 for the expenses
for one qualifying child or $2,100 for more than one child.
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Child Tax Credit
You may qualify for a credit of up to $1,000 per qualifying child. A qualifying
child is an individual who is under age 17 at the end of the year, is claimed as
a dependent, and meets the definition of a child under the Uniform Definition of
a Child as a son, daughter, stepchild, adopted child, grandchild, or eligible foster
child.
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The Additional Child Tax Credit
You may receive less than the full amount of the Child Tax Credit because this credit is limited to your available tax liability. In certain cases, you may be entitled to an additional credit in excess of your tax liability. The additional child tax credit is available to taxpayers with an income greater than $3,000 and is a refundable credit.
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Earned Income Credit
The Earned Income Credit is a refundable credit for low-income workers with earned income. The credit is available for taxpayers with or without children. You could be entitled to a refundable credit of up to $3,094 (if you have one qualifying child), $5,112 (if you have more than one qualifying child), $5,751 (if you have more than two qualifying child) or $464 (if you have no qualifying children or no children at all). You have earned income if you work for someone else or if you are self-employed. Taxable earned income includes wages, salaries, tips, union strike benefits, long-term disability benefits received prior to minimum retirement age, and net earnings from self-employment. If you qualify for the Earned Income Credit, it reduces the tax you owe. The credit is refundable if your withholdings and earned income credit amount are greater than the tax liability you may have on your tax return.
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American Opportunity Credit and Lifetime Learning Credits
There are two nonrefundable tax credits available for qualified tuition and related expenses for post-secondary education. You may be able to claim an American Opportunity Credit of up to $2,500 for each eligible student. The Hope credit is available for the first four years of qualified post-secondary education. You may be able to claim a Lifetime Learning Credit of up to $2,000. The Lifetime Learning credit is available every year you, your spouse, or a dependent pays for any qualified education expenses after the first four years.
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Tuition and Fees Deduction
Instead of claiming the American Opportunity Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit, you can claim a tax deduction for qualified higher education expenses. You can take a deduction of up to $4,000 for qualified tuition and related expenses as an adjustment to income, even if you do not itemize your deductions. Certain restrictions may apply.
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Retirement Savings Contributions Credit
If you contribute to an IRA or an employer-provided retirement account, such as
a 401(k), you may be eligible for a credit. The credit is based on up to $2,000
of your contribution for the year. You must be age 18 or older to claim the credit
and you cannot be a student or claimed as a dependent on another's return. The credit
is in addition to any deduction or exclusion from income for the contribution.
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Credit for Excess Social Security Tax or Railroad Retirement Tax
(RRTA) Withheld
The maximum social security taxes or RRTA tier 1 an individual must pay in 2006
is $5,580. If you worked for one employer and paid more than $5,580, you must contact
your employer for a refund of the overpayment. If you worked for more than one employer
and the combined total of your social security taxes or RRTA is greater than the
maximum amount, you may claim the excess taxes paid as a refundable credit on your
tax return.
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Foreign Tax Credit
If your Form 1099-INT or Form 1099-DIV shows you paid foreign taxes, you may be
eligible to claim either a credit or an itemized deduction for these taxes. Generally,
the foreign tax credit results in a greater tax savings than deducting the foreign
taxes as an itemized deduction.
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