News/Events
News Release
St. John’s and H&R Block To Welcome Last Baby of 2008
1/2/2009
Joplin, Mo. – St. John’s Regional Medical Center and H&R Block are proud to welcome the last baby of 2008 to the world. It may be the first baby of the year who grabs the media headlines, but it’s the last baby of the year who yields the tax savings. Babies born before the stroke of midnight this New Year’s Eve could save their parents thousands on their 2008 returns.
Randy Reed and Crystal Davis are the proud new parents of a new baby girl. Joslyn Deborah Darli Reed was born on December 31 at 9:07 p.m. in the Sister Kevin Kerwin Birthing Center. Joslyn weighed seven pounds, 10 ounces and measured 20 inches in length. Her brother and three sisters welcomed her.
“Mere minutes can mean major tax savings this New Year’s Eve,” Eric Metz, H&R Block district manager. “Babies born on December 31 provide parents with a retroactive tax exemption for all of 2008. To get that same tax break, parents of babies born after midnight on January 1, will have to wait until they file their 2009 taxes – in 2010.”
In addition to an exemption worth $3,500 in 2008, new parents may qualify to claim two other credits that could further reduce this year’s tax liability.
The Child Tax Credit is worth as much as $1,000 per child, regardless of whether taxpayers file as a single or jointly. To qualify, parents must have earned income of at least $8,500. And, even parents without any tax liability may be eligible for this refundable credit.
The Earned Income Tax Credit isavailable to lower-income workers. The amount of the credit varies with income, the number of qualifying children and whether a single or joint return is filed. EITC is also a refundable credit so it can reduce a taxpayer’s liability below $0, resulting in a refund.
About H&R Block
H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) is the world’s preeminent tax services provider, having served more than 400 million clients since 1955 and generating annual revenues of $4.1 billion in fiscal year 2008. H&R Block provides income tax return preparation and related services and products via a nationwide network of approximately 13,000 company-owned and franchised offices and through TaxCut® online and software solutions. The company also provides business services through RSM McGladrey. For more information visit our Online Press Center at www.hrblock.com/press.
St. John’s Regional Medical Center has been leading the way in healthcare throughout the four-state area for more than 100 years. We are a 367-bed facility, serving 19 counties in Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas. We provide state-of-the-art healthcare services, specializing in cardiology, orthopedics, neurosciences, and oncology. St. John’s has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission. Additionally, we have been recognized by Thomson Healthcare with three 100 Top Hospital Awards (2006) and rated in the top 5% nationally by HealthGrades for patient safety (2008) and top 10% for critical care (2009).