EITC Proclamation

On February 4th, the Asset Building Coalition of Southeast Louisiana (ABC-SELA) has been awarded a Proclamation from the City of New Orleans.

Paige McCranie, ADA Administrator from the Mayor’s Office, was very pleased to hear about the coalition’s efforts. She worked diligently to get this proclamation in recognition of the hard work the coalition is doing to get the word out about Earned Income Tax Credits and free tax preparation services for the eligible citizens of the Greater New Orleans Area.

United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area is a member of ABC-SELA, along with participating partners ASI Federal Credit Union; Catholic Charities Hispanic Apostolate Community Services; Total Community Action (TCA); Loyola University New Orleans; Vietnamese Initiatives in Economic Training (VIET); Dillard University; St. Roch Community Church and AIM IRS.

People who work but don’t earn a lot of money may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit, as well as free help preparing their tax return. EITC is a refundable income tax credit that can put hundreds or thousands of dollars into the pockets of individuals and families who qualify. However, millions of Americans do not receive this benefit each year simply because they failed to fill out the proper forms. The IRS estimates that 20 to 25 percent of eligible taxpayers fail to claim the credit which could put more than $5,000 into the pockets of a family with three children. The Earned Income Tax Credit is the federal government’s largest program benefiting lower earning workers.

The EITC is a valuable but complex tax break. Free help is available to determine eligibility and file to claim the credit at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. Taxpayers who come to free tax preparation sites can find out about some programs that will help them leverage their refunds toward the financial success of their families. These asset-building programs provide financial education, homebuyer’s education, down payment assistance and low interest car loans.

The IRS is working to make it easier for taxpayers to understand if they are eligible for the EITC. Tools include the EITC Assistant, an online tool found on the official IRS website at www.irs.gov, which offers simple steps on determining if you qualify for the credit. Taxpayers can also call 1-800-829-1040 to inquire about their EITC eligibility and how to claim the benefit.

Bilingual tax preparation services for members of the Spanish-speaking community and the Vietnamese-speaking community are offered by appointment at the Hispanic Apostolate and VIET.

The Wal-Mart Foundation supplied United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area with a grant to bring a free mobile tax filing tour funded by a national retailer. A Mobile Tax Center van equipped with One Economy’s tax filing technology and IRS-certified tax professionals was set up at Dillard University from February 22nd to the 27th, and provided services to many first-time filers.