Expanding Opportunity – Building Hope: Federal EITC Awareness Day

When you finally land that job you’ve been hoping for, you don’t let anything get in your way—not even being homeless. Things had finally turned around for Jesse and he was grateful to be working at a production warehouse, but he still wasn’t able to afford an apartment. But when Jesse had his taxes prepared at United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site, he found out that he’d be getting the Earned Income Tax Credit. He and his wife Juana used their return to move out of their car and into a home.

The Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps millions of workers like Jesse keep more of what they earn to pay for things like reliable transportation to get to work, housing, and food, and United Way helps people claim the Federal EITC at tax time.  In 2016 United Way partner, MyFreeTaxes.com, helped  hundreds of Lehigh Valley families get tax refunds, with 20% qualifying for the Federal EITC. That meant money coming right back into our community and being spent at local businesses.
  
Here are two ways you can help us do more:

1)    Advocate to Expand the Federal EITC. We know the Earned Income Tax Credit works, yet some working Americans are excluded from the powerful, proven impacts of the Federal EITC.  In fact, about 7.5 million Americans are actually taxed into poverty largely because they are ineligible for the Federal EITC or the tax credit is too small. We can change that by raising our voices together – learn more and take action. 

2)    Spread the Word - Help family and friends connect to the Earned Income Tax Credit. One in five who are eligible for the Federal EITC are leaving money on the table – money that can make a big difference in paying bills and putting food on the table. Anyone earning $64,000 or less in 2016 can do their taxes for free at MyFreeTaxes.com and can connect any credits for which they are eligible. 
 
By connecting local community members like Jesse to existing resources and advocating to expand what works, you can make a difference today.  Please join us and #LiveUnited.