EITC
In 2004, United Way of El Paso County joined with El Paso Affordable Housing, YWCA Paso del Norte Region, the El Paso Collaborative and other partners to provide free income tax assistance to El Paso County residents. The Coalition for Family Economic Progress was formed to address the financial stability of El Paso families. The Coalition for Family Economic Progress partnered with the IRS to open Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites.
The VITA Program provides to low- to moderate-income (generally, $40,000 and below) workers in El Paso County with free tax preparation. The VITA program allows families and individuals to receive every tax benefit available to them, including EITC. EITC encourages people to work and raises more workers and children out of poverty than any other federal government program.
By volunteering, a VITA volunteer can directly help boost a working family's income by up to 40 percent. Last year, VITA volunteers prepared 13,483 tax returns, brought back to families over $5.7 million in EITC funds and $11.6 million in overall federal refunds plus saved families more than $800,000 in tax preparation fees. By increasing income, the VITA program directly affects a family's or individual's ability to become or remain financially stable.
To further the mission of financial stability, asset development volunteers will be on hand at VITA sites to offer information about financial education programs. By linking the EITC refund with asset development protection and development opportunities, the EITC program will go a long way in helping families become financially stable.
As a of tax year 2007, the EITC Task Force consists of over 40 organizations and has increased VITA program participation by more than 1000%, serving more than 7,000 families and connecting these participants to more than $5 million in EITC. For the latest tax year, 136 volunteers at 17 tax sites brought in $2.1 million in EITC.
Need Tax Help?
Are You Eligible?
What to Bring With You
Would You Like to Volunteer?
For more information about EITC, please contact:
Denise Juarez
Director of Donor Development
(915) 533-2434 ext. 238
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