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Millions of Families Could Overlook Valuable Tax Credit
Free Tax Help Available to Help Low to Moderate Income Elbert Cty Residents Claim Their Full Refunds
Free Tax Help Available to Help Low to Moderate Income Elbert Cty Residents Claim Their Full Refunds
Millions of workers could overlook an important federal tax credit because
they simply don't know about it. As a result, they could miss out on up to
$5,751 extra in their federal income tax refunds through the Earned Income
Tax Credit, or EITC.
"This money can make a real difference to families, particularly when they're struggling in this recovering economy, "said Becky Carter, Executive Director of Colorado East Community Action Agency (CECAA). CECAA is once again offering free tax preparation services for low to moderate income families at numerous sites throughout Elbert County. There, individuals and families can get free assistance in determining their EITC eligibility and claiming the credit.
CECAA is raising awareness of these services on national EITC Awareness Day on January 27th, by having tax preparers available at the Elbert County Department of Human Services office from . Drop off service as well as taxes done while you wait will be available.
The EITC is a refundable tax credit available to qualifying low to moderate wage employees and their families. Anyone earning $49,078 or less from wages, self-employment or farming in 2011 could qualify. Unfortunately, CECAA is not able to prepare taxes with farm income this year. Many people will qualify for the first time this year due to changes in their income, their marital status, or parental status, according to the IRS. Yet the agency estimates only four out of five eligible workers currently claim their EITC.
"We want to raise the number to five out of five," said Carter. "Thanks to our trained and certified tax preparation force, we plan on assisting more than 125 EITC eligible tax payers and more than 250 tax filers altogether throughout Kit Carson, Lincoln, Cheyenne and Elbert Counties."
A family's tax refund also offers a chance to put some money into savings. To help families looking to save their tax refund for a rainy day, CECAA is able to offer refunds to savings, checking, savings bonds, and NEW This Year, Western Union prepaid Debit Cards. CECAA also offers free financial asset building classes called Bootstraps™. The 4-5 week course, taught in 1 ½ hour sessions allows for the taxpayer to look at how they are spending their money and how that relates to their personal values. Bootstraps™ often uses the phrase- It's your money, It's your life!
CECAA will be holding numerous tax sites throughout Elbert County from January 17th through April 16th, 2012. CECAA tax services are free and include free e-file, free direct deposit and low cost prepaid debit cards services not previously offered.
CECAA can also provide a special event for your employees at your business at a date and time that is most convenient for you, some evening and weekends are available for shift workers.
For more information, call 719-348-5303. You can also find us on Facebook, where we will update daily our clinic dates and times.
The mission of CECAA is to stabilize families living in the rural Colorado counties of Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Lincoln and Elbert and move them out of poverty by promoting and advocating for self-sufficiency, personal responsibility and asset building through education, case management and collaboration with local, state, private and federal resources.
The Promise of Community Action- Community Action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities and makes our community a better place to live. We are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.
Colorado East Community Action Agency
224 1/2 Nebraska Avenue
PO Box 416
Stratton, CO 80836
719-348-5303-office
719-385305-fax
Website: http://www.cecaa.org/
"This money can make a real difference to families, particularly when they're struggling in this recovering economy, "said Becky Carter, Executive Director of Colorado East Community Action Agency (CECAA). CECAA is once again offering free tax preparation services for low to moderate income families at numerous sites throughout Elbert County. There, individuals and families can get free assistance in determining their EITC eligibility and claiming the credit.
CECAA is raising awareness of these services on national EITC Awareness Day on January 27th, by having tax preparers available at the Elbert County Department of Human Services office from . Drop off service as well as taxes done while you wait will be available.
The EITC is a refundable tax credit available to qualifying low to moderate wage employees and their families. Anyone earning $49,078 or less from wages, self-employment or farming in 2011 could qualify. Unfortunately, CECAA is not able to prepare taxes with farm income this year. Many people will qualify for the first time this year due to changes in their income, their marital status, or parental status, according to the IRS. Yet the agency estimates only four out of five eligible workers currently claim their EITC.
"We want to raise the number to five out of five," said Carter. "Thanks to our trained and certified tax preparation force, we plan on assisting more than 125 EITC eligible tax payers and more than 250 tax filers altogether throughout Kit Carson, Lincoln, Cheyenne and Elbert Counties."
A family's tax refund also offers a chance to put some money into savings. To help families looking to save their tax refund for a rainy day, CECAA is able to offer refunds to savings, checking, savings bonds, and NEW This Year, Western Union prepaid Debit Cards. CECAA also offers free financial asset building classes called Bootstraps™. The 4-5 week course, taught in 1 ½ hour sessions allows for the taxpayer to look at how they are spending their money and how that relates to their personal values. Bootstraps™ often uses the phrase- It's your money, It's your life!
CECAA will be holding numerous tax sites throughout Elbert County from January 17th through April 16th, 2012. CECAA tax services are free and include free e-file, free direct deposit and low cost prepaid debit cards services not previously offered.
CECAA can also provide a special event for your employees at your business at a date and time that is most convenient for you, some evening and weekends are available for shift workers.
For more information, call 719-348-5303. You can also find us on Facebook, where we will update daily our clinic dates and times.
The mission of CECAA is to stabilize families living in the rural Colorado counties of Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Lincoln and Elbert and move them out of poverty by promoting and advocating for self-sufficiency, personal responsibility and asset building through education, case management and collaboration with local, state, private and federal resources.
The Promise of Community Action- Community Action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities and makes our community a better place to live. We are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.
Colorado East Community Action Agency
224 1/2 Nebraska Avenue
PO Box 416
Stratton, CO 80836
719-348-5303-office
719-385305-fax
Website: http://www.cecaa.org/
The Schedule
January 2012
Tuesday the 24th, 10:00 to 2:00 at the Simla Library
Thursday the 26th, 9:00 to 1:00 at Elizabeth Workforce Center
Friday the 27th, 9:00 to 12:00 at Elbert County Dept. of Human Services, Kiowa
Monday the 30th, 9:30 to 2:00 at Elizabeth Library
February 2012
Saturday the 4th, 9:00 to 1:00 at Elbert County Dept. of Human Services, Kiowa
Tuesday the 7th, 10:00 to 2:00 at Simla Library
Thursday the 9th, 9:00 to 1:00 at Elizabeth Workforce Center
Thursday the 9th, 2:00 to 4:00 at ECCO, Kiowa
Monday the 13th, 9:30 to 2:00 at Elizabeth Library
Thursday the 16th, 9:00 to 1:00 at Elizabeth Workforce Center
Thursday the 23rd, 9:00 to 1:00 at Elizabeth Workforce Center
Thursday the 23rd, 2:00 to 4:00 at ECCO, Kiowa
Monday the 27th, 9:30 to 2:00 at Elizabeth Library
Tuesday the 28th, 10:00 to 2:00 at Simla Library
March 2012
Monday the 5th, 9:30 to 2:00 at Elizabeth Library
Thursday the 8th, 9:00 to 1:00 at Elizabeth Workforce Center
Tuesday the 13th, 10:00 to 2:00 at Simla Library
Thursday the 22nd, 9:00 to 1:00 at Elizabeth Workforce Center
Thursday the 22nd, 2:00 to 4:00 at ECCO, Kiowa
Monday the 26th, 9:30 to 2:00 at Elizabeth Library
Tuesday the 27th, 10-2 at Simla Library
April 2012
Monday the 9th, 9:30 to 2:00 at Elizabeth Library
Tuesday the 10th, 10:00 to 2:00 at Simla Library
Thursday the 12th, 9:00 to 1:00 at Elizabeth Workforce Center
Thursday the 12th, 2:00 to 4:00 at ECCO, Kiowa
Contacts:
Simla Library: Sharon Hall 719-541-2573
Elizabeth Workforce Center: Cynthia Rears 303-646-2783
ECCO: Pam Witucki 303-621-2599
Elbert County Dept. Human Services: Joanne McLain 303-621-3214
Elizabeth Library: 303-646-3416
CECAA: 719-348-5303
January 2012
Tuesday the 24th, 10:00 to 2:00 at the Simla Library
Thursday the 26th, 9:00 to 1:00 at Elizabeth Workforce Center
Friday the 27th, 9:00 to 12:00 at Elbert County Dept. of Human Services, Kiowa
Monday the 30th, 9:30 to 2:00 at Elizabeth Library
February 2012
Saturday the 4th, 9:00 to 1:00 at Elbert County Dept. of Human Services, Kiowa
Tuesday the 7th, 10:00 to 2:00 at Simla Library
Thursday the 9th, 9:00 to 1:00 at Elizabeth Workforce Center
Thursday the 9th, 2:00 to 4:00 at ECCO, Kiowa
Monday the 13th, 9:30 to 2:00 at Elizabeth Library
Thursday the 16th, 9:00 to 1:00 at Elizabeth Workforce Center
Thursday the 23rd, 9:00 to 1:00 at Elizabeth Workforce Center
Thursday the 23rd, 2:00 to 4:00 at ECCO, Kiowa
Monday the 27th, 9:30 to 2:00 at Elizabeth Library
Tuesday the 28th, 10:00 to 2:00 at Simla Library
March 2012
Monday the 5th, 9:30 to 2:00 at Elizabeth Library
Thursday the 8th, 9:00 to 1:00 at Elizabeth Workforce Center
Tuesday the 13th, 10:00 to 2:00 at Simla Library
Thursday the 22nd, 9:00 to 1:00 at Elizabeth Workforce Center
Thursday the 22nd, 2:00 to 4:00 at ECCO, Kiowa
Monday the 26th, 9:30 to 2:00 at Elizabeth Library
Tuesday the 27th, 10-2 at Simla Library
April 2012
Monday the 9th, 9:30 to 2:00 at Elizabeth Library
Tuesday the 10th, 10:00 to 2:00 at Simla Library
Thursday the 12th, 9:00 to 1:00 at Elizabeth Workforce Center
Thursday the 12th, 2:00 to 4:00 at ECCO, Kiowa
Contacts:
Simla Library: Sharon Hall 719-541-2573
Elizabeth Workforce Center: Cynthia Rears 303-646-2783
ECCO: Pam Witucki 303-621-2599
Elbert County Dept. Human Services: Joanne McLain 303-621-3214
Elizabeth Library: 303-646-3416
CECAA: 719-348-5303