“When I received the EITC, it helped A LOT. We were in a terrible situation. I was biking to school, my internship, my job, the grocery store, and finally back home in the dark. Being a full time student, having two part time jobs, and being a new father- is not a good thing when you’re on a bike. Having the EITC expanded my income enough to buy a car.”- James
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps millions of workers like James 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 EITC at tax time. Across the U.S., hundreds of United Ways connect millions of people to billions of dollars in tax refunds through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and MyFreeTaxes.com. That means money coming right back into local communities and being spent at local businesses.
But we need your help in two ways:
1. Advocate to Expand the EITC. We know EITC works, yet some working Americans are excluded from the powerful, proven impacts of the EITC. In fact, about 7.5 million Americans are actually taxed into poverty largely because they are ineligible for the EITC or their EITC 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 EITC. One in five who are eligible for the 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 to any credits for which they are eligible.
Hardworking Americans should be able to make ends meet. By connecting local community members like James to existing resources and advocating to expand what works, YOU can make a difference TODAY.
