The earned income tax credit (EITC) is a great deal for low-to-moderate income workers. For single workers, the credit is below $500, but for dual or single parent families with children, the EITC can help eliminate up to $5,600 of your taxes.

The IRS has a EITC Home Page where they tell you how much you can get, and how to get it.

The idea behind the EITC is to reward people who work. Specifically, they are trying the hardest to relieve taxes for someone who has to work a moderate-income job, and raise kids. If you make under $22 an hour, and have children, you may not have to pay taxes at all, because of the EITC.

The state of California requires that employers notify potentially eligible workers of this fact.

Low Income Taxpayer Clinics are an IRS service where people will help you fill your taxes. Click the link and find your nearest location.

Also, pay attention to community websites and civic news. The IRS has tax workshops for people learning how to do taxes. There are even events where the IRS shows you how to get the EITC.

Wikipedia has a good article describing why EITC works better than welfare when the goal is to get people working.