This week
March 12 - 18, 2008

Batchelor completes training assessment

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeremy J. Batchelor, son of Jennifer L. and Warren S. Batchelor of Nederland, Texas, recently participated in a training assessment off the coast of Southern California while assigned to amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, homeported in San Diego.

Batchelor's ship completed its Unit Level Training Assessment - Certification (ULTRA-C) which helped determine the abilities of various shipboard teams to respond to emergency situations. Batchelor and his fellow shipmates interacted with each other to share information and use training tactics to respond to the scenarios. Training teams evaluated their effectiveness and kept the Sailors safe.

USS Boxer is an amphibious assault ship with a primary mission to embark, deploy and land elements of a Marine landing force by helicopter, landing craft air cushion or amphibious assault vehicle.

Batchelor is a 2000 graduate of Nederland High School of Nederland, Texas and joined the Navy in June 2000.

Entergy promotes IRS Earned Income Tax Credit

As part of its efforts to help lowincome residents and increase awareness about the Earned Income Tax Credit, Entergy Texas, Inc. is sending a message to its customers that could bring millions of dollars into the state.

Throughout this tax season, the company is sending notices promoting the Internal Revenue Service's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to its 393,000 residential customers.

"Between 20 and 30 percent of our customers live at or below the poverty level," said Don Pumphrey, customer service manager for Nederland. "We're finding that many of them qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, but they don't know anything about it."

"Working families can receive up to $4,716 if they qualify, and that can make a huge difference in their lives," Pumphrey said.

Entergy Texas' efforts complement the Internal Revenue Service's campaign to educate taxpayers about the EITC and requirements to claim the credit.

The EITC is a federal income tax credit for low-income workers who are eligible for and claim the credit. Taxpayers who qualify for and claim the credit can reduce the amount of tax they owe, pay no tax, or get a refund. Research by the IRS indicates that 20 to 25 percent of households who are entitled to the credit do not claim it or between 3.5 million and 7 million households.

In the 2007 filing season, nearly 2.2 million Texans received more than $4.8 million through EITC, according to the IRS. "We believe that number could easily go higher if more people were aware of the program," Pumphrey said. "EITC not only benefits working families, it also reduces demand for public service and benefit programs as well as helps our local economy."

To qualify for the EITC, earned income and adjusted gross income must each be less than: $37,783 ($39,783 married filing jointly) with two or more qualifying children;

For a complete list of EITC requirements call 1-800-TAX FORM (1-800-829-3676) or visit http://www.irs-eitc.info/