Qualified St. Lawrence County taxpayers can take advantage of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program of free income tax preparation through April 17.

Sponsor Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County can offer the VITA program to most taxpayers with gross household income less than $50,000.

A trained volunteer will prepare and electronically file both federal and state taxes for free. The program does have some limits: self-employed persons must have a profit and expenses that do not include depreciation and office-in-home expense, and the program is unable to help people who operate farms or who have rental income.

Cooperative Extension especially wants to help eligible taxpayers receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which helps lower income workers, and can put as much as $5,751 into the pockets of a family with three children, $5,112 with two children, $2,094 with one child, or up to $464 for a worker with no children. You have to file a tax return and fill out the right forms to get the credit. The IRS estimates that one out of five taxpayers eligible for the benefit fail to claim it.

Taxpayers with earnings of less than $43,998 ($49,078 if married filing jointly) for families with three or more children, $40,964 ($46,044 if married filing jointly) for families with two children, $36,052 ($41,132 married filing jointly) for families with one child, or $13,660 ($18,740 married filing jointly) if there are no children should check to see if they qualify.

“The economic downturn in 2008 is still affecting our county. “ said Cornell Cooperative Extension Finance Manager Anita Figueras. “The extra dollars eligible taxpayers can get through EITC can make their lives a little easier, and is a great stimulus to the local economy.

To make an appointment at the Canton office, call Bobbi Jo Brothers at 379-9192. Susan Rice, an experienced volunteer in the program, will be offering tax preparation at the Potsdam Public Library by appointment from noon to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays. To make an appointment there, call 265-7230.

People having taxes done through VITA need to present photo identification and Social Security cards for themselves and their dependents, and documentation for all items to be listed on the return such as W-2s, 1099s, and dependent care information.

If you have tax questions, you can contact Figueras at the same number or at arf22@cornell.edu.