Community Based Coalition and Urban Ministry

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Community Based Coalitions
A Gateway to Self-Sufficiency
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Awareness and Education
AssetBuilding
Community- Based Coalitions
Tax Preparation
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What is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?

• a federal tax benefit to help low and moderate
  income workers increase their financial
  stability.
• Reduces taxes for workers
• Supplements wages
• Makes work more attractive than welfare
• Fully refundable credit

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Why call for EITC outreach?

• Limited education, language, and financial
  abilities
• Many taxpayers who qualify for EITC do not claim
  it
• Partners are uniquely qualified to reach their
  customers

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What is the Child Tax Credit?

• 1,000 for each qualifying child
• Partially refundable starting in 2001
• Working families can receive BOTH the Child Tax
  Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit in the
  same year.

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Volunteer Income Tax Sites
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Wide range of opportunities

• Recruit volunteers to serve at assistance sites
• Volunteer your Tech center to be a VITA site
• Manage return preparation site in your
  neighborhood

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Community-based coalitions

• Community organizations with common interests or
  a shared commitment of helping working families
• Coordinate existing activities of multiple
  organizations

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Assets

• Provide greater household stability
• Increase community/civic involvement
• Increase the wealth of neighboring communities
• Enhance well-being of next generation

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Gateway to self-sufficiency

• Coalitions
• Use EITC as gateway to affordable, accessible
  financial services
• Help to obtain bank accounts
• Provide financial literacy training
• Provide tools and opportunities to assist
  families in buying a home

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Linking the pieces
Awareness reach eligible families that
currently dont claim the Credit Free Tax Prep
preserve the value of the Credit Asset building
introduce financial literacy into the picture
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Why is IRS interested in community-based
coalitions?

• Ensure taxpayers have the correct tax
  liabilityincluding credits
• Generate a stronger outreach in communities
• Shared mission with many local and national
  organizations

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What can your Tech Center do to help?

• Strengthen the partnership by joining!
• Involve government, business and community
  leaders
• Distribute EITC educational materials
• Sponsor/coordinate a tax prep site
• Share excess computers, printers,
  materials/utilize computer lab

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Next Steps for Coalition Building

• Schedule the next meeting
• Determine 1st year and subsequent goals
• Develop an action plan
• Decide on a name for the coalition
• Recruit other organizations
• Locate assistance sites and recruit volunteers
• Train volunteers

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Contact Information
Richard Keeling Internal Revenue Service Tax
Analyst Volunteer/Community Partnerships 404-338-8
814 Richard.Keeling_at_irs.gov