1. A ten-year study of earned income tax credit utilization in western South Dakota: Where you live matters By: Liz Diers

2. Earned Income Tax Credit (Line 64)

3. 2013 Earned Income Credit $$$

4. Literature Review Siegel & Alwang, 1999: “the living conditions of the poor limit the range of choices available to them” Mendenhall, 2006: EITC chronology The Brookings Institution Berube, 2007 Holt, 2011 Kneebone, 2010 Smith and DeBord, 2005: education and poverty Caputo, 2010: EITC under-utilization and education

5. Research Questions 1.Is there an equitable distribution of EITC utilization across geographic regions or is there a difference based on where taxpayers live (metropolitan vs. rural vs. Indian reservation)? 2.Is there a connection between what is being taught at different higher education institutions and utilization of the EITC in that geographic region? 3.How did the taxpayers, who have claimed EITC for multiple years, find out about this credit?

6. South Dakota

7. Mixed-methods study – Quantitative 10 years of tax data for western SD taxpayers Grouped by county into 6 regions (metro, rural, each reservation) Graphed and re-grouped data into 3 regions Statistically analyzed – Qualitative Evaluated Accounting Programs at Higher Education Institutions Interviews

8. How Much Money?

10. 3 Groups – Average EITC %

13. Higher Education Institutions and Interviews Accounting Programs at Higher Education Institutions – 1 public, 1 private, 2 tribal colleges – Interviewed accounting professors and analyzed curricula Interviews – Taxpayers – IRS employees – VITA site coordinators

14. Higher Education Institution Locations

15. Interview Highlights Importance of VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Word of Mouth “Christmas in January” Used Car business - best time of year Abusive Paid Preparer Practices