Entergy Texas, Inc. : Entergy Texas and Lamar University Community Outreach Remind Customers "You've Earned It!"

Volunteers prepared to help Southeast Texas residents claim Earned Income Tax Credits

Beaumont, Texas - Taxes are top of mind for many Southeast Texans this time of year. In Texas alone, about $1 billion federal Earned Income Tax Credits went unclaimed as recently as 2008.

An initiative by Entergy Texas is helping qualifying customers secure their share of these refunds. The company has partnered with Lamar University Community Outreach to remind customers "You've Earned It!" According to the Internal Revenue Service, many qualified workers are failing to file for the tax credit.

Entergy employees and Outreach volunteers will support Super Tax Day Saturday, Feb. 2 in the Golden Triangle area by helping residents who earn $50,000 or less determine if they qualify to receive the tax benefits. Qualifying residents could receive $3,000 or more in Earned Income Tax Credits. Volunteers will help file tax returns for qualifying residents. These services are provided free of charge by Entergy and other community partners as part of their commitment to helping eligible local residents receive the tax credits they have earned.

"Within the region Entergy serves are some of the highest poverty rates in the nation," said Vernon Pierce, customer service director, Entergy Texas, Inc. "Entergy is committed to helping move customers in need to self-sufficiency. This effort to help qualifying customers receive the income tax credits they've earned supports that commitment.

"Many of our neighbors struggle just to get by every day, Pierce said. "By working through EITC, we can help them save money and get back on the road to self-sufficiency."

During Super Tax Day, residents can find out if they qualify for the tax credit and get help with their tax returns by visiting locations listed in the attached document.

Tax assistance will be available throughout the tax season at a number of sites in Southeast Texas, both in the Golden Triangle and in Entergy Texas' more western service territory. Those interested in locating a site may go to http://entergy.com/app/eitcapp/home.html.

Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to more than 400,000 customers in 27 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy is an integrated energy company
engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including more than 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power, making it one of the nation's leading nuclear generators. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.