|
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax credit available to many low-income families and
individuals who worked during the tax year. The EITC brings more people out of poverty than any
other federal program, including welfare. Compared to other "local" federal programs, EITC is
8 times the size of the Workforce Investment Act and more than 10 times the size of Community
Development Block Grants (CDBG). Low-income families can qualify for up to $4500 in
federal and state money, but most people are unaware of the EITC and therefore don't apply for it.
|
 |
| What is the Boston EITC Campaign? |
|
The Boston EITC Coalition is a collaboration of city, state and federal government organizations,
regulators, foundations, non-profits and community-based organizations (CBO's), as well as the
business community. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides free software and training materials
to the volunteer sites. Together, the Campaign and the IRS provide training to site staff and volunteers.
|
|
Our objectives for the upcoming 2002/2003 tax season consist of opening at least 15 free tax preparation
sites, preparing 100 returns per site and returning $1.5 million tax refund dollars to the pockets of
Boston's low-income families. New this year, we also plan to implement a financial literacy component
in the citywide campaign.
|
How you can make a difference!
Click here and volunteer to participate in this year's campaign!
We need volunteers to help us with the following tasks:
Tax Preparation: Prepare tax returns for clients at a neighborhood tax site. Tax preparers will receive free basic tax law and software training.
Intake Assessment: Greet taxpayers at a neighborhood tax site and provide basic financial literacy information. Assist taxpayers in organizing required paperwork before they see a tax preparer. Intake assessors will receive free training.
Financial Counseling: Provide instruction in financial literacy classes organized at community tax sites. Free training in financial literacy will be provided.
Information Technology: Computer-savvy individuals can help tax preparation sites to troubleshoot any IT problems that arise.
Outreach: Help with outreach in neighborhoods throughout the City of Boston to get the word out about the EITC and the campaign's free tax preparation sites.
|
