Posted 2/14/01 Qualifying wage earners, elderly can receive free tax time advice, direction Every year a multitude of Minnesotans, by failing to file their taxes or by filing incorrectly, lose tax credits, refunds and deductions what could mean hundreds or even thousands more dollars in their pockets, according to legal education officials. Senior citizens, people with disabilities and people with low incomes may have their taxes completed for free. To find a tax clinic near you, call (651) 297-3724, or (800) 657-3989. A single welfare mother of two children earning $9,500 per year, via assorted tax credits and refunds, could expect a refund of more than $5,000 ñ more than half of the money she took home in wages that year. This sample takes child care expenses, renterís refunds and working family credits into account, but the point is that options are available. Many taxation officials and attorneys are praising Earned Income Credit as the most effective poverty fighting tool in the governmentís arsenal. ìMake sure you keep receipts,î said Christina Cook, tax attorney with Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance. The K-12 Education Credit will reimburse taxpayers who have an income less than $33,500 for qualifying expenses of up to $1,000 per child ñ up to $2,000 ñ for educational expenses. These expenses may include books, school supplies, tutors, music lessons, after-school or summer academic programs, or more. But those who wish to take advantage of the opportunity must provide proof of their purchases with receipts. Cook said the state has been auditing most people who are claiming the education credit and denying 80 percent of those audited ñ many of them for failure to provide receipts for their purchases. Receipts are also very helpful for renters whose landlords fail to supply them with certificates of rent paid, or for people who pay their childcare providers in cash. For people who may have missed out on various credits or refunds in recent years, there is some good news: you can file amended returns for as many as three years, so you can go back and claim the credits to which you are entitled. Cook says many workers are also unaware of the Advance Earned Income Credit program which allows workers who qualify to get some of their refund in advance installments ñ added to their paychecks ñ instead of waiting for the lump sum. This can be of enormous help to those who may be struggling to make ends meet each month. For some workers the program could mean an extra $100 per month. To get the Advance Earned Income Credit, workers need to fill out a W-5 form. Employers are required to provide it, although some employers may not be aware of the program and would then have to be notified of it. ©Post Review