New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service will host a workshop as part of the National Earned Income Tax Credit Outreach Campaign. The free workshop will be Wednesday, Jan. 9, from 8:30 a.m. to noon in Gerald Thomas Hall, Room 303, 940 College Drive, Las Cruces.

Fahzy Abdul-Rahman, NMSU Extension family resource management specialist, and Liz Perea, Internal Revenue Service senior tax consultant, will conduct the class.

A free continental breakfast will be served at 8 a.m. Reservations to attend are required by Jan. 4. Call 575-646-2198, send an email to glorhern@nmsu.edu, or complete an online RSVP at http://rsvp.nmsu.edu/rsvp/taxcredits.

The National Earned Income Tax Credit Outreach Campaign is an effort to inform low- and moderate-income working families about the Earned Income Tax Credit.

"It is vital to ensure that low- and moderate-income working families don't miss out on this valuable federal tax credit during these difficult economic times," Abdul-Rahman said. "Many low-wage tax filers in 2013 may be eligible for an EITC worth up to $5,891."

The boost provided by the EITC and other valuable federal tax credits provides many working families the opportunity to pay their household bills and meet their children's needs even through salary cutback or periods of unemployment.

"In addition, these federal tax benefits are a great boost to local and New Mexico economies," he said.

In New Mexico, about 30,000 eligible families fail to claim the EITC each year.