Whereas, The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a proven anti-poverty tool for raising the household income of low-income working families; and, 

Whereas, Depending on a person's income and number of dependents, the federal EITC can reach a maximum of $2,853 for families with one child and $4,716 for families with two or more children; and,

Whereas, Qualifying taxpayers can often receive an EITC even if they owe no taxes and, for a low-income family, it can make the difference between living below the poverty threshold or living above that threshold; and,

Whereas, In the 2006 tax year, 664,909 EITC returns were filed statewide, totaling $1,284,005,664 with an average individual EITC return the taxpayer of $1,931; and,

Whereas, More than 65,000 federal tax returns were filed at free tax preparation sites; and, 

Whereas, The Michigan EITC initiative has developed and strengthened state and local partnerships dedicated to the mission of supporting work and reducing poverty for qualifying individuals and families; and,

Whereas, The EITC initiative serves Michigan's working poor and has established a Michigan EITC Web site, expanded free and simplified tax preparation services, and helped increase the number of eligible taxpayers receiving EITC refunds; and,

Whereas, The Financial Services Tax Force has been formed to explore, and advocate for free tax preparation services and financial education/services accessible to all persons eligible for the EITC; and,

Whereas, I-Can!  EITC, a Web-based application that empowers low-wage earners to complete and e-file their federal and some state tax returns on their own at no cost, was piloted at ten Michigan Works! sites and ten Michigan credit unions; and,

Whereas, The IRS provided the taxpayer the option of routing their refund to two or more accounts, affording low-income taxpayers more opportunity to save a portion of their tax refund; and now therefore be it,  

Resolved, That, I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby declare January 31, 2008, as EITC Day in Michigan.