Tax and Benefits Outreach
The Children's Defense Fund gives information and free tax assistance to help poor and near-poor families. We help them find existing federal and state benefits to improve their living standards, health and opportunities. These benefits include:
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit: In 2002, the EITC helped 4.9 million people, including 2.7 million children, escape poverty. The credit brought over $36 billion in benefits to more than 20 million low- and moderate-income workers.
- Food Stamps: In 2002, Food Stamps added more than $200 a month to the income of the average poor family with children who received them.
- CHIP/Medicaid: Medicaid and CHIP help families afford medical care. Nearly all low-income children are eligible for either Medicaid or CHIP, but one in five remains uninsured.
CDF-CA Closes Out a Busy and Exciting 2009 Tax Season
It's been a busy tax season for the Children's Defense Fund-California (CDF-CA)! In collaboration with The Greater Los Angeles Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Campaign Partnership, CDF-CA helped raise awareness about free tax preparation resources, EITC, and other tax benefits and services available to low and moderate income families. In addition to helping to disseminate information on tax resources, CDF-CA staff became IRS certified tax preparers and helped prepare taxes at Villa Parke Community Center and at the end of the season Community Tax Day at Long Beach Community Action Partnership, helping several families to claim thousands of dollars in tax refunds!
CDF-CA also worked with local elected officials and community groups including Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley- Thomas, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, State Controller John Chiang, United Way of Greater Los Angeles, Congressman Xavier Becerra, the IRS, One Economy, ACORN, VITA site clients, and EITC recipients to spread the word about the tax benefits and services available to hard working families
Additionally, the Children's Defense Fund helped to bring light to the millions of dollars lost by hard working families in California and across the country to commercial tax products, including Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs). In the report, Avoiding the Pitfalls of Refund Anticipation Loans in California,CDF details how hundreds of thousands of individuals and families spend money unnecessarily on commercial tax preparation fees, Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs), and other commercial products.Along with partners, CDF-CA urged working families and individuals to take advantage of the free tax preparation services available to keep their hard earned dollars in their pockets.
Step forward for children and families and join CDF-CA in our efforts to educate communities on how to keep as much of their hard earned cash as possible!
START PREPARING TO BE A VOLUNTEER FOR NEXT YEAR'S TAX SEASON NOW!
You can make a difference by helping families take advantage of all of the tax resources and services available. By getting certified for free as a tax preparer, you can help families get the tax benefits they have earned at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site in your area. You will be helping low- and modest-income working families supplement their income by assisting them in claiming tax credits, and you'll also help them save money they might have spent using a commercial tax preparer. Families can spend the extra cash you help them save on life's necessities, and even help stimulate their local economy.
Step up and help hard-working families get the refunds they deserve. You can get certified as a volunteer tax preparer or reviewer in 1-2 days and begin helping your community and the economy, all while learning new skills! For more information, and to access the online IRS tax preparer class and certification test, click here.
FREE TAX HELP IS HERE!
Why pay a tax service provider when you can have your taxes prepared for free? Families and individuals who made less than $45,000 in combined income last year, may qualify for free tax services. Keep more of what you earned! To find a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site in your area, DIAL 2-1-1.
Families and individuals of all incomes can also keep more money in their pockets by utilizing I-CAN!™ E-file a free self-guided online tax preparation tool.
Additional Tax Resources
What is EITC?
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable credit for low to moderate income families. Research has shown that EITC is one of the most effective weapons in the battle against child poverty. Each year, the EITC lifts nearly 4.5 million Americans above the poverty line, including 2.4 million children. Do you have questions about EITC? Click here for answers.
Contact Jennifer Kim-Bero at jkim@cdfca.org or call at (213) 355-8791 for more information on how you can get involved with tax and benefits outreach.
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