LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - As tax season shifts into high gear, Gov. Steve Beshear is urging low-wage-earning Kentuckians to take advantage of a federal tax credit.

Beshear says nearly a half million Kentucky taxpayers are eligible to receive the earned income tax credit. He says the credit can help struggling families buy food and clothes and pay bills.

In the 2011 tax year, Kentuckians filed nearly 401,000 earned income tax credit claims for more than $905 million in benefits. The average credit was $2,255.

The Internal Revenue Service estimates 15 to 20 percent of eligible workers don't claim the benefit, mostly due to lack of awareness.

Beshear says there are nearly 200 free tax preparation sites across the state where trained volunteers will help Kentuckians file their taxes and apply for the credit.