Community Impact
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| Learn more about the Campaign for Working Families, visit: |
| More Tax Resources |
Philadelphia Taxpayer Assistance Brochure |
| Free Tax Filing |
| The United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania and
Solutions for Progress are offering free income tax filing to
residents of Southeastern Pennsylvania whose annual household
income is less than $54,000*. Learn more >> The Earned Income Tax Credit
(EITC) is the government’s largest cash assistance program. There are hundreds of volunteer opportunites available in your area every day! Visit www.volunteerway.org and get connected. |
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Earned Income Tax Credit
Volunteers Make A Difference
Every year millions of dollars in tax refunds
go unclaimed in Philadelphia. As a partner
in The Philadelphia Campaign for Working
Families, United Way of Southeastern
Pennsylvania helps bring many of those millions
back to Philadelphia's low-income working families
by recruiting and training hundreds of volunteers
across our area. The Campaign provides free
tax assistance to families, helping them file
for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
and connects Philadelphia residents to other
tax credits, public benefits, and asset-building
resources through hundreds of local volunteers.
During the 2006 Tax Season
- 386 Volunteers
- 12,000 Tax Returns Filed
- $20.3 Million in Refunds
- Saved $4.8 Million in Tax Prep Fees
Background
EITC is a tax benefit for working people who
earn low and moderate incomes (less than $42,000
a year). It reduces the tax burden on these
workers, supplements their wages, and helps
families pay bills or save for the future.
EITC refunds can be up to $4536 per year, based
on family size and income.
The Campaign increases the number of Philadelphia residents who file for the
EITC. It also boosts the number of people who receive free tax filing assistance
and do not have to pay sky-high fees to commercial tax preparers. Over the past
five years, the Campaign has helped to bring $86 million in returns to hard working
families. Similar EITC campaigns are underway in 23 cities and four rural areas
across the nation, through the Annie E. Casey Foundation's "National Assistance
for Working Families Campaign."
Over the last 32 years, the EITC has reduced the annual tax burden for low-income
working families and emerged as America's largest and most effective anti-poverty
program. In 2000, the EITC has provided roughly the same level of federal assistance
to low-income families nationwide as the TANF and food stamps programs combined,
according to a study released in January 2003 by the Brookings Institution. Questions?
Send an email to taxvolunteer@uwsepa.org or
call 215-665-2460.
Questions? Call 215-665-2460 or email taxvolunteer@uwsepa.org.
