"The Jean-Baptiste family invested their tax refund in their home and family by paying their property taxes and then used the rest to pay off the entire amount of their homeowners insurance.”

EITC client of AccountAbility MN

The average two bedroom apartment in Miami rents for approximately $950 per month, an annual expense of approximately $11,400. Lasandra Vicks, a 39 year-old single mom of four earned $11,167 in 2004 working four different jobs. For this family every bit helps, so the $4,583 tax return Lasandra received with free tax assistance from the Haitian Neighborhood Center - Sant La went a long way. Even though Lasandra worked four jobs there were still three months in 2004 where she didn't work which resulted in some unpaid bills.

"I did a few things for my family with the tax money I got," Lasandra modestly answered when asked what she did with the income tax return. In reality, she paid almost three months of back rent, bought a new refrigerator, took her children out for a day and indulged them just a little bit and made her oldest daughter's graduation as special as possible by buying her graduation cap and gown, ring and pictures. "I am a general laborer, and I know that we need this program, at least I know I do."

EITC clients of AccountAbility MN

Raising four children, maintaining a home, and working over 40 hours per week is tough enough, but try managing on a combined income of $25,772. This Jean-Baptiste family (not their real names) made up of Cecil, a landscaper, Marianne, a document clerk, and their four children is doing it well. This family owns their own home, two cars, and manages to send one of their daughters to college away from home. But it isn't easy, and every bit helps. The Jean-Baptiste family received free tax assistance from the Haitian Neighborhood Center - Sant La and received $2,039 in Earned Income Tax Credit Money and $2,248 in Child Tax Credit, for a complete income tax return of $5,189 for the 2004 tax year - approximately 20 percent of their annual income.

One then wonders what a family would do for themselves with this amount of money all at once. The Jean-Baptistes didn't go on a vacation, or splurge on a nice treat. They invested in their home and family by paying their property taxes that amounted to almost $4,000 and then used the rest to pay off the entire amount of their homeowners insurance for 2005 that was approximately $1,300.

EITC client of AccountAbility MN

“Every year for the past ten years I have told myself that I am going to save my income tax return and use it to buy a home, and every year I spend it on family emergencies before I can find a house I can afford.  If EITC is taken away we have nothing to look forward to, no possibilities.” 

Janee DuBois (not her real name) is a single mother of two girls in college and has been a long-standing client of the Haitian Neighborhood Center - Sant La.  She earns $15,236 a year, approximately $293 per week, before taxes.  Janee recalls the day when she could set aside $15 a week for gas; now she says it won't even fill half her gas tank.  “The working poor like me are being squeezed, and it's only getting worse.”  Ms. DuBois lives from pay check to pay check and recognizes that her tax return, which is primarily EITC money, has not always been used as an investment, but instead as a safety net for her and her girls. 

“At this point I don't worry about myself because my girls are almost grown up and I will no longer benefit from EITC help, but I want to speak up for those who come after me.  Those single mothers, the working poor.  I know what this money has meant to me and what it will mean to them.”

"Stacey's tax refund was half of her total income for 2004.  She used most of her refund to pay bills, but will be participating in financial education and homebuyer education courses to plan for her family's future."

EITC clients of Accounting Aid Society, Michigan

Christina Jeffries started her home child-care business seven years ago, struggling to balance caring for half a dozen children, being self-employed, and trying to find cost-effective ways to get her taxes prepared. For several years, she sought help from a private tax-preparation company, but they were very expensive and she didn't always get the quality of work she expected. 

Then Ms. Jeffries, a low-income single mother with two girls, saw a newspaper ad for free tax assistance through Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS).  MVLS is a partner organization of the Baltimore Creating Assets, Savings and Hope (CASH) Campaign.  She went to a volunteer tax clinic on a Saturday morning and sat down with a volunteer tax lawyer who walked her through the process, took care of filling out her forms and, a couple of hours later, handed Ms. Jeffries her professionally - and accurately - prepared tax forms to sign and send to the IRS. >

Christina Jeffries fully appreciates what free tax preparation has meant to her.  Last year she got more than $3,700 from tax refunds and her Earned Income Tax Credit.  And she's also come away with a far greater degree of financial control over her life than at any time since she started her day care.  "I've learned so much from the volunteers," says Ms. Jeffries.  "I'm so grateful for the hard work they do for me."

EITC clients of United Way of the Bay Area

John and Sandy Brown (not their real names) are a married couple with two children. John has his own carpet cleaning business and helps coordinate his neighborhood recycling program, and Sandy works as an actress. They heard about the free tax preparation site at ACORN (a partner with the Baltimore CASH Campaign) through word of mouth.

Although they had received the Earned Income Tax Credit in past years, their refund this year was over twice what they had received in years past. They used their refund money to pay for their son's tuition. Since both John and Sandy work on a free-lance basis, they had eleven W2 forms to work with, plus expenses that John wanted to deduct for his business.

They were extremely pleased with the level of professionalism, and the attention to detail that their tax preparer showed while processing their return.

EITC client of Baltimore CASH Campaign and Mayor Martin O'Malley

Susan Thomas (not her real name) is a single mom with two children. Susan worked as a data processing specialist until she was laid off from her job in October 2004, and she now works selling cosmetics for Mary Kay.

She found out about the free tax services from a flyer distributed at her son's school. Susan had fallen behind on her rent since she had been unemployed and was in danger of being evicted. She used her tax refund to bring her rent up to date.

Susan was extremely pleased that child care was provided at the free tax preparation site operated by ACORN (a partner organization of the Baltimore CASH Campaign), and with the level of service that she received. She was also impressed with the work that ACORN does, and is currently using her administrative skills to help out at the local ACORN office. Once she finds a full-time job, Susan hopes to enroll in ACORN's homeownership program.

EITC client of Baltimore CASH Campaign addressing a rally

Stacey Lewis (not her real name) is a mother of 2 young, school-age children and works as a cashier for CVS. Stacey found out about free tax preparation through her young parents program. She is a very self-motivated learner and wants to take full advantage of every service offered

Last year, through East Harbor CDC's free tax preparation program (a partner organization of the Baltimore CASH Campaign), Stacey qualified for a free Hewlett Packard computer and printer and graduated from our computer training program. This year, she received a refund of $4,247, with $3,390 coming from the Earned Income Credit. This amount was half of her total income for 2004. Stacey used her most refund to pay bills, but will be participating in the financial education and homebuyer education courses to plan for her family's future.

"The EITC refund that Jalisa received last year helped her to clean up her credit so that she could be eligible to rent the apartment she now has."

Denise Curtis first came to the Tax Counseling Project in 2004 after being referred by the staff at Employer and Employee Services.  The Project's Loop tax site volunteers have helped Denise file her taxes for the past two years.  "They're great," Denise says of the volunteers who prepared her taxes.  "They're understanding and patient, very courteous."  The volunteers at the Loop site helped Denise claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC). 

Denise used to use paid tax preparers, who sometimes charged $300 just to help Denise and her family get their money.  After claiming the EITC and the CTC, Denise and her family received a refund of over $5000.  Denise was able to use this refund to furnish her home, buy her own washer and dryer and purchase some necessary items for her children, ages one, nine, 11 and 17.  Denise said, "I worked hard all my life.  This tax service is the best thing they did for poor folks.  It enabled me to stretch a dollar a bit further and do some things I wouldn't normally be able to do."

EITC clients of AccountAbility MN

In 2002, Jalisa Green (not her real name) and her mother were about to go to a commercial tax preparer until they received a flyer from the Center for Economic Progress in the mail detailing the free tax services being offered throughout the city.  Jalisa's mother had always done her taxes in the past, but due to increasingly difficult requirements related to filing for the Earned Income Tax Credit, Jalisa's taxes were too complex for her mother to handle.  She was very excited to find out about the Center and even proceeded to tell other friends and family about the free tax service as well.  For example, Jalisa's brother would typically go to a commercial tax preparer to have his taxes done and would often file for a refund anticipation loan which cost him hundreds of dollars over the length of the loan.  This year, Jalisa sent him to the Center's site in Bronzeville and "he felt a lot better to have his money in his pocket."   

Jalisa is "grateful for the program" because as a student and part-time office worker, she had lots of bills and loans to pay last year and the Center's free service "helped a whole lot."  Last year, Jalisa used her refund to pay off credit card debt and student loans and open a savings account in her daughter's name.  This year she hopes to use some of her refund to buy furniture for her new apartment. The EITC refund that Jalisa received last year helped her to clean up her credit so that she could be eligible to rent the apartment she now has (and no longer have to stay with her mother).  Jalisa believes that the Center provides "a great opportunity for people of low-income status to not have to pay for their taxes to get done." 

EITC client of United Way of the Bay Area

Doni Jakarta (not his real name) and his family have lived in the U.S. for seven years, on political asylum from their native Indonesia.  As a student at the Chicago Theological Seminary, Doni held a work-study job during 2004 to help support his wife and two year old son. 

The North Side Federal Credit Union, where the family banks, is one of two sites in Uptown where the Tax Counseling Project provides free tax preparation.  Doni was referred to the Project to help him file his taxes for the first time.  "The process is very helpful," says Doni of his experience with the Tax Counseling Project.  "I don't know how to do all of the things I am responsible for.  It was very helpful."  The Jakartas received an EITC refund of $2,604, which they had directly deposited to their account at the North Side Credit Union.  Doni says his family will use the money for basic living expenses while he tries to find a better job.

Bonnie's federal and state income tax refunds were enough to pay off and catch up on some bills including utilities. She was even able to purchase an item she had always considered a luxury that she had wanted for so many years...a wedding ring!

Kriss Burns, EITC Spokesperson

Juanita Maye was excited. This year her total return—including Federal, State and EITC—came to about $6,000. Juanita worked for the Salvation Army. Because she is making a change in her career (going back to college) this money has been very helpful. Juanita says it contributed to sustaining her family, which includes her 15 year old son and 5 year old daughter. The refund enabled her to purchase a computer and supplies necessary to continue her education.

She found out about the VITA tax site through the Head Start program in Moorhead, MN. She used free tax preparation in the past but none were as efficient and friendly. For Juanita the waiting period was quite short, enabling her to return home within 20 minutes. She was able to ask all the questions she needed to and received accurate information.

"I had already known about EITC, having had my taxes prepared in the past years and have been a single mother for years. My son is 15 and my daughter is 5. I have received EITC for just as many years."

Bonnie Kerr and has a family of 5. Bonnie serves on the Head Start Advisory Council. Bonnie found out about the free VITA tax services through the Lakes & Prairies Community Action Head Start program that her child attends.

Her federal and state income tax refunds were enough to pay off and catch up on some bills including utilities. She was even able to purchase an item she had always considered a luxury that she had wanted for so many years...a wedding ring! Bonnie had filed for EITC before but was especially pleased with how well the VITA tax preparation process went. The EITC meant a lot to her and her family.