COVID-19 Pandemic Resources

The federal tax deadline has been postponed to July 15th, 2020 and VITA sites have been forced to close out of caution for their volunteers, coordinators, and clients. As the VITA community retools to meet this moment for its existing clients, stimulus checks have been authorized and will be administered by the IRS, adding another challenge for VITA and its partners as the process requires some vulnerable communities to submit tax filings for the first time. The process also leaves out other groups entirely — for instance, immigrant families who file taxes with an ITIN as well as some dependents. This crisis, like recessions past, also brings with it an increase in predatory lending and practices. We are keeping an eye on access, outreach, and predatory threats, and welcome your thoughts and insights.

We’ll be updating this page periodically. Please contact us with any additional resources.

EITC and Tax Policy in the Time of COVID-19

The Tax Foundation: State Tax Coronavirus Tracker
CBPP: Expanding Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit Would Benefit More Than 10 Million Rural Residents, Strongly Help Rural Areas (Chuck Marr, Stephanie Hingtgen, Kris Cox, Arloc Sherman, and Katie Windham, August 2020)
Institute for Policy Studies: White Supremacy is the Preexisting Condition: Eight Solutions to Ensure Economic Recovery Reduces the Racial Wealth Divide (Dedrick Asante-Muhammed, Chuck Collins, and Omar Ocampo, July 2020)
ITEP: Beyond SCOTUS: States Recognize Need for More Inclusive Immigrant Policy (Marco Guzman, June 26, 2020)
PolicyLink: Fighting Anti-Blackness Through Budget Justice (Marc Philpart and Chione L. Flegal, June 10, 2020)
Forbes Magazine: HEROES Act Would Expand The EITC For Childless Workers And Help Fight Recession (Elaine Maag, June 3, 2020)
CBPP: 3 Principles for an Anti-Racist, Equitable State Response to COVID-19 — and a Stronger Recovery (Erica Williams and Cortney Sanders, May 21, 2020)
The Tax Foundation: HEROES Act First Bid to Provide Phase 4 Relief for Businesses and Individuals [includes temporary expansions to the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC)] (Garrett Watson, May 14, 2020)
CBPP: Temporarily Expanding Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit Would Deliver Effective Stimulus, Help Avert Poverty Spike (Updated May 13, 2020)
MDRC: Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit as a Response to the COVID-19 Crisis (Cynthia Miller, May 2020)
Forbes: A Better Way To Get Money To Low-Income Americans Through The Tax Code (Marie Sapirie, April 29, 2020)
Tax Policy Center Webinar: Tax Policy During a Pandemic (April 13, 2020)
Tax Policy Center blog: Low-Income Workers Without Children May Miss Out On The Coronavirus Rebates (Elaine Maag, April 3, 2020)
ITEP: Covid-19 Tax Policy Resources and Adding Flexibility to Make the EITC Work During the Pandemic (Aidan Davis, April 1, 2020)
TCWF: EITC is Potential Tool to Help Low-Income Workers through COVID-19 Crisis (Devin Simpson, March 18, 2020)
Tax Policy Center: Using The EITC To Help Fight An Economic Slowdown (Elaine Maag, March 13, 2020)
ITEP: Taxes in a Time of Coronavirus (Amy Hanauer, March 10, 2020)

VITA and Tax Preparation Adaptations

Taxpayer Opportunity Network: Alternative Tax Prep Options
CBPP, Get it Back Campaign: COVID-19 Tax Resources
Get Ahead Colorado: EITC Eligibility and Alternative Filing Options
United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona: VITA Valet
CalEITC4Me: COVID-19 Resources
CASH Campaign of Maryland: Resources and Remote Tax Prep
Code for America: GetYourRefund
United Way Worldwide: Accessing Your Stimulus Check

CARES Act and COVID-19 Relief

Focus on Non-Filers and other Vulnerable Populations

IRS: Economic Impact Payments, What You Need to Know; Treasury, IRS launch new tool to help non-filers register for Economic Impact Payments
United Way 211: Accessing Your Stimulus Check
CFPB Video: What non-tax filers need to know about economic impact payments
Center for American Progress: Centering the Disability and Aging Communities in Federal Emergency Response Efforts (Valerie Novack, June 16, 2020)
CBPP: Future Stimulus Should Include Immigrants and Dependents Previously Left Out, Mandate Automatic Payments (May 6, 2020)
Closing the Women’s Wealth Gap: On the Margins: Economic Security for Women of Color through the Coronavirus Crisis and Beyond (April 2020)
CBPP blog: IRS Stimulus Glitches Show Cost of Earlier Cuts (Samantha Washington, April 28, 2020)
National Disability Institute: Impact on the Disability Community – CARES Act and Family First Response Act
CBPP blog: IRS Deadlines Threaten Stimulus Payments for 1 Million Dependents (April 21, 2020)
The Urban Institute (Webinar): Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis: Making Direct Cash Payments Work (April 14, 2020)
The Urban Institute: What Amount of Cash Can Help Buffer Families against COVID-19’s Economic Impacts? (Caleb Quakenbush and Signe-Mary McKernan, April 13, 2020)
CFPB: A Guide to COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Relief (April 10, 2020)
CLASP: COVID-19 Response Must Include Youth and Adults Impacted by the Criminal Justice System (April 3, 2020)
CBPP: Next Step on Stimulus Rebates: Automatic Delivery for People Receiving SSI and Veterans’ Benefits (Chuck Marr, April 2, 2020)
RespectAbility: Stimulus Package Becomes Law – Here’s What It Means for People with Disabilities (March 27, 2020)
CBPP: CARES Act Includes Essential Measures to Respond to Public Health, Economic Crises, But More Will Be Needed (Sharon Parrot, Chad Stone, Chye-Ching Huang, Michael Leachman, Peggy Bailey, Aviva Aron-Dine, Stacy Dean, Ladonna Pavetti, PhD, March 27, 2020)
CLASP: Next Coronavirus package must do more for youth and young adults (Kisha Bird and Lashon Amado, March 27, 2020)

CARES Act and COVID-19 Relief

Focus on Immigrant Communities

California Immigrant Resilience Fund
TCWF: Colorado Expands EITC to ITIN Filers (July 14, 2020)
CLASP: Effective COVID Relief Depends on the Inclusion of Immigrants (Fact Sheets, June 8, 2020)
NY Times: California Offers $500 in COVID-19 Aid to Undocumented Immigrants (updated May 19, 2020)
CBPP: Future Stimulus Should Include Immigrants and Dependents Previously Left Out, Mandate Automatic Payments (May 6, 2020)
International Rescue Committee Report: Protecting the Economic Wellbeing of Immigrants and Refugees During COVID-19 (April 27, 2020)
NILC Webinar: Equal Opportunities to Thrive: Rebates, Taxes/SSN/ITIN, Food Security, and Access to Food Programs (April 16, 2020)
LA Times: California plans $125 million in relief to immigrants without legal status. Here are details (April 16, 2020)
Center for American Progress: A Phase 4 Coronavirus Relief Bill Must Include Protections for Undocumented Immigrants (April 16, 2020)
NILC: Understanding the Impact of Key Provisions of COVID-19 Relief Bills on Immigrant Communities (April 1, 2020)
Vox: The missing piece in the coronavirus stimulus bill: Relief for immigrants (Nicole Narea, April 1, 2020)
CBPP: CARES Act Includes Essential Measures to Respond to Public Health, Economic Crises, But More Will Be Needed (Sharon Parrot, Chad Stone, Chye-Ching Huang, Michael Leachman, Peggy Bailey, Aviva Aron-Dine, Stacy Dean, Ladonna Pavetti, PhD, March 27, 2020)
CNN Perspectives: These taxpayers won’t get stimulus checks. That’s unjust (Tim Breene, March 26, 2020)

Concern around Predatory Lending and Practices

National Consumer Law Center: COVID-19 and Consumer Protections (updated regularly)
NY Times: ‘Pure Hell for Victims’ as Stimulus Programs Draw a Flood of Scammers (April 22, 2020)
Washington Post: Amid bipartisan criticism, Treasury Dept. attorneys review bank seizures of $1,200 stimulus checks (April 20, 2020)
ProPublica: Millions of Americans Might Not Get Stimulus Checks. Some Might Be Tricked Into Paying TurboTax to Get Theirs (Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel, April 15, 2020)
Center for Responsible Lending: COVID-19 Crisis Requires Comprehensive Response to Protect Financial Security, CARES Act Falls Short (April 10, 2020)
Center for Responsible Lending: Congress Must Protect Consumers from Predatory Lending During the COVID-19 Crisis (April 1, 2020)
CFPB: Beware of Scams Related to the Coronavirus (March 27, 2020)
IRS: How to know it’s really the IRS calling or knocking on your door

COVID-19 Response Resources from Sister Philanthropy Supporting Organizations

United Philanthropy Forum Joint PSO Statement: Keep Equity at the Forefront in Philanthropy’s Response to the Coronavirus

Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy: Open Letter to Philanthropy: The Cure to Viral Racism Is Within Our Hands

DC Foundations Joint Statement: COVID-19 Crisis is a Racial Justice Issue & our Response must Prioritize the Power of Black, Indigenous, Latinx & Other People of Color

Economic Opportunity Funders provides a list of rapidly developing resources and updates related to the COVID-19 outbreak and recession planning, with a focus on equity, budget and tax policy and the future of work. A list of emergency relief funds, related resources from PSO partners and funder guidance is also provided.

Asset Funders Network COVID-19 Response: In response to the urgent need for creative and replicable support from philanthropy, AFN is working to connect funders and rapidly deploy the ideas, experiences, new strategies, and resources of its membership network for recovering and protecting the assets of low income and working families. This web page will be updated regularly.

Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) is closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak, with a focus on how it is impacting immigrants and how philanthropy is addressing that impact. We will be continually updating this page with relevant and useful resources, as well as webinars and other programs.

Funders Together to End Homelessness has put together general resources for funders as well as resources focused on COVID-19’s impact on housing and homelessness.

Early Childhood Funders Collaborative provides a curated list of rapidly developing resources and updates for early childhood funders related to COVID-19.