Fewer than 3 percent of EITC recipients take advantage of free tax prep. Prepare and Prosper – an organization that provides free tax prep to Minnesotans and works to expand access to financial products and services – conducted a consumer market research study to find out why tax filers who qualify for and know about…
Each year, the IRS and community partners join a national grassroots effort to get the word out about EITC eligibility and no-cost tax prep on EITC Awareness Day. Partner toolkits and resources on the IRS website include marketing kits, news releases, and tips for keeping taxpayers informed. This year, in advance of January’s EITC Awareness…
Volunteer tax assistance programs have grown by 280% since 2003, generating approximately $3.9 billion in refunds during the last tax year alone. Despite this increase in use and need, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs have suffered from decreased public and private support. In 2014, 3.6 million…
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has announced a new pilot for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Programs interested in starting or expanding saving initiatives in the context of tax prep for the 2016 tax season. CFPB will provide educational materials, training, and technical assistance to approximately 25 VITA programs across the country to implement…
In early 2014, the National Community Tax Coalition was no longer a resource for the field. A few months later, with guidance from the field and charitable foundations, the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) took up the mantle as the central support organization for free tax and financial service providers through the Taxpayer Opportunity Network…
Last year, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program combined with the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program helped taxpayers file 3.6 million tax returns, including 734,000 EITC and 409,000 Child Tax Credit (CTC) claims. Corporation for Enterprise Development’s (CFED) blog post – What Free Tax Prep Means to Real Families – gives voice…
With the 2015 tax season behind us, learn about how Enroll America is partnering with free tax preparation sites to maximize the number of Americans who enroll in and maintain health coverage through the Affordable Care Act.
As we approach the height of tax season, Tax Credits for Working Families recently released toolkits to help strengthen EITC outreach efforts. These toolkits share best practices from tax credit outreach programs from around the country as well as useful ideas on ways to bring elected officials and advocates together in spreading the word. Template…
A new report from the Center for Rural Affairs Rural Family Economic Security project focuses on the prevalence of EITC recipients in rural America. Nationally, the researchers found that 21.4 percent of rural households claimed the EITC in 2012, compared to 18.7 percent of urban households.
Free tax preparation sites across the country played a critical role during last year’s historic roll out of the Affordable Care Act. The coming tax year will provide additional opportunities for tax preparation sites to assist families to enroll in health care coverage.