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The EITC is a refundable tax credit for low-income workers. The EITC is available to single adults earning up to $11,230 through four-person families earning as much as $34,780. The credit can be as large as $4,204 and the average EITC for Cuyahoga County in 2002 was $1,763. It is estimated that between 15 and 20 percent of those eligible for this credit do not claim it. When the credit is claimed, the money not only goes to hard-working families but also goes back into the Cuyahoga community. Click here for more information on the Earned Income Tax Credit Click here for estimated refund from the Earned Income Tax Credit Also, see the Brookings Institute for more detailed information on cities, counties, and regions in the State of Ohio and nationally at http://www.brookings.edu/es/urban/eitc.htm
The Cuyahoga Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Coalition is a group of government, foundation, non-profit, community development agencies, and financial institutions whose goal is to provide and advocate for fair and free tax service for low- and moderate-income workers. The primary mission of the coalition is to help County residents claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), receive quality and free tax preparation, and work toward financial security. Click here to go to the Cuyahoga EITC website Interested in volunteering? Click here for information The Cuyahoga EITC Coalition promotes free and fair tax preparation services for middle- and low-income filers. Many filers are subject to filing fees and refund anticipation loans (RALs) sold to them by private for-profit businesses. These fees and loans are avoidable by using the Coalition’s free tax sites throughout the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. These sites are quick, efficient, high-quality alternatives to paid preparers. The volunteer preparers are certified annually by the IRS and the sites have convenient hours to meet the demands of working families. Click here to listen to the VITA site radio spot Click here for a list of VITA sites in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Interested in volunteering? Click here for details The Cuyahoga EITC Coalition also encourages financial independence and savings for middle- and low-income families. This platform of wealth-building is an important step toward home ownership, saving for higher education, and day-to-day living. Click here for information on wealth-building Click here for a Wall Street Journal article on free credit reports
Read our Fact File:
EITC Gains, RAL Drains
Who Takes Credit? Earned Income Tax Recipients in Cleveland,
2006
Credit Where it's Due:
The Earned Income Tax Credit in Ohio
Who Takes Credit? Earned Income Tax Recipients in Cleveland
Taking Credit:
Boosting Participation in the Earned Income Tax Credit in Greater
Cleveland
An Ohio Earned Income Tax Credit: Costs and Benefits
National Community Tax Coalition Legal Aid Society of Cleveland for specific case help Click here for an article on the high cost of Tax Refund Loans
Free Tax Service Saves Working Families Money Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 14, 05
9/21/2006 |
