What would you do if you knew there was a proven
solution that lifts millions of children and working families out of poverty
each year… a tool that, at the same time, also improves child health and
academic achievement, enables financial stability for hard-working families,
and pumps billions of dollars back into local communities around the country?
You’d
probably want to talk about it. You’d probably want as many of your friends,
family and community to know about this amazing resource.
That’s
exactly why United Way, our community partners, and thousands of volunteers
each year take action to connect millions of people to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). In fact, just last tax season, United Way of Pierce County,
through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, helped connect local people to $428 million in tax refunds –
money coming right back into our community. And that’s why we advocate to
strengthen and expand the EITC for working families and individuals.
Simply
put, the Earned Income Tax Credit helps lower-wage working families keep more
of what they earn. Research finds that
the EITC encourages work, reduces poverty and leads to long-term gains in child
health and academic success. Together with the Child Tax Credit (CTC), another
essential credit that helps offset the cost of raising children, the credits
lifted more than 9 million people – 5 million of them children -- out of
poverty in 2013. The credits also help 22 million lower-income Americans have
further financial stability.
Knowing
this, what would you do if you
realized that some key features of the EITC and CTC are set to expire soon, and
that, without people like you taking action, thousands of our community members could
fall back into poverty?
We hope you’d take action.
There
are three important ways you can take action this EITC Awareness Day – January
30, 2015.
1) Advocate: Send a message toyour Members of Congress letting them know how important the Earned Income Tax
Credit and Child Tax Credit are in our community. It’s easy! Simply read the
letter (personalize it if you wish), enter your information, and press send. That’s it!
2) Spread the word: Tell your friends
and family about the success of the EITC & Child Tax Credit. Tweet it, post it, put a sign in your yard, a
sticker on your car, or a tattoo on your arm. Why not be creative? The tax
credits could mean hundreds or thousands of dollars in the pockets of people
you care about. Use #EITC, #EITCDay, and #LIVEUNITED.
3) Connect people to the
credits
through free online tax preparation at MyFreeTaxes.com. Share the link and individuals or families
earning $60,000 or less in 2014 can file their state and local taxes for free
online. Those who may want free
in-person assistance can call 2-1-1 to find their
nearest Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site.
Thanks
for taking action – because change doesn’t happen without you.
