News | Press Release
Free tax assistance for low-income taxpayers
Inland Empire, CA (January 31, 2008) – Puzzled by the tax
law or which credits and deductions to take? Need assistance
with your tax return? You may want to visit a Volunteer Income
Tax Assistance (VITA) site. Inland Empire United Way (IEUW) is
working with Cal State San Bernardino & Cal Poly Pomona to offer
Free Income Tax preparation and filing for low-income and
elderly taxpayers. The VITA program is designed to help
low-income families become self-sufficient and save money for
the future. No appointment is necessary to visit a VITA site!
Trained volunteers help prepare your income taxes and help you
to claim special tax credits including Earned Income Tax Credit
(EITC), Child Tax Credit, Credit for the Elderly and more. EITC
is the nation’s largest and most effective federal aid program
that provides an incentive to obtain and maintain employment.
IEUW is supporting local VITA sites at Northtown Community
Center, Mentone Library & Senior Center, Cal Poly Pomona
Downtown Center, Boys & Girls Club of Pomona, and Boys & Girls
Club of Fontana. These sites are partially funded by a Union
Bank of California grant.
For locations and times, as well as necessary documentation
to bring, dial 2-1-1 or (888) 435-7565. 2-1-1 is a toll-free
phone number that provides information and referrals to callers.
Live, bilingual call specialists are available 24 hours a day.
VITA sites offer preparation for basic Federal and California
resident tax returns for low-income and elderly taxpayers,
additionally most sites also offer free electronic filing so
taxpayers can receive refunds sooner. VITA volunteers are NOT
able to prepare tax returns for nonresidents, small business
owners, owners of rental properties, or those filing married
separately.
During the 2006 tax season, at the IEUW sponsored VITA sites,
volunteers filed 1,258 federal and 1,035 state tax returns,
saving tax filers an average federal return of $464.79. This
resulted in a return of about $1,551,000 to local residents. The
coalition of stakeholders captured $1.4 in EITC funds.
View
the flyer to promote it!
IEUW helps disadvantaged kids succeed in school, provides easy
access to health and social services and develops volunteer
opportunities to create positive change, and strengthens
financial stability opportunities for low-income families and
individuals. Learn more at
www.ieuw.org.
Contact:
Allan Collins, Inland Empire United Way, at (909) 980-2857
ext. 243
www.ieuw.org
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