Title: Tax Preparation
1STAFFORD SCHOOLS HEAD START
Tax Preparation and Filing Assistance
2STOP We Cant Do Another Thing!
3Why Should We?
Family Goals
Self Sufficiency-stop paying to file taxes
Financial Home- stop paying to cash checks
It Feels Good
4WHAT IS THE LARGEST ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAM IN THE
U.S.?
Earned Income Tax Credit
5EITC is a PAYMENT , Not a deduction
Must have earned income
Must be married filing jointly, single, or head
of household, not married filing separately
Interest income 2,650 or less
6EITC INCOME LEVELS
7Qualifying Child
- Child, stepchild, or descendent of one of them
- sibling, stepsibling whom you care for as your
own child - adopted child or foster child you care for as
your own child - under 19 or 24 if full-time student
- any age if permanently and totally disabled
- lived with you in the U.S. for more than half the
year - must have social security numbers
8ADVANCE EITC
File Form W-5 with employer
9Head Start Role
Identify families who should file
Find a site with internet connected computers -
library?
Solicit community partners tax assistance
volunteers banking institutions budgeting
counselors, financial training consultants
10Contact IRS office for training IRS Volunteer
Coordinators Handbook
Pick dates and times for assistance
Pick software program source
Train staff and volunteers
Advertise!
11Financial Planning Survey for ________________ Inc
ome Taxes filed Yes No EITC Amount
____________ Child Tax Credit
___________ Checking Account Yes No Savings Yes
No Automatic Savings Yes No Retirement Yes No Lif
e Insurance Yes No Health Insurance
for Self Spouse Children Notes
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13TIPS
Use the toll free for volunteers
Have referral sources available for those clients
you cant serve
Track of clients and amount of EITC return
Let your staff share clients
Precede and follow up with budgeting information
Maybe a disclaimer?
14WHY EITC?
Just a few stories
2 families used the money to prevent eviction
1 family was able to get into housing
1 paid off electric bills from past months
1 family kept their furniture in storage from
going on the auction block
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16If we can help you help your parents Stafford
Schools Head Start 610 Gayle Street Fredericksburg
, VA 22405 (540) 368-2559 schs_at_staffordschools.ne
t