Overhead view of Sacramento

Congresswoman Matsui Encourages Taxpayers to Take Advantage of Free Tax Assistance Sites

October 4, 2017
Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, January 31, 2014

CONTACT: JONELLE TRIMMER
(202) 225-7163

Congresswoman Matsui Encourages Taxpayers to Take Advantage of Free Tax Assistance Sites

Volunteers will be on hand to help attendees file taxes andamp; determine EITC eligibility

CA - As part of national Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day, Congresswoman Matsui (CA-06) reminds working Sacramentans to check and see if they are receiving the tax credit they may be eligible for.

Individuals who worked in 2013 and had an annual income of less than $51,567 may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and should check their eligibility when filing taxes. Nationwide, millions of people miss out on the EITC every year because they do not claim it on their tax return, or do not have a filing requirement. In Sacramento, an estimated $35 million in eligible credits goes unclaimed each year.

On average, the EITC adds $2,300 to working families' tax refunds. The tax credit scale starts at $487 for individuals without children, and goes as high as $6,044 for those with three or more qualifying children. Last year, more than 27 million workers received $67 billion in EITC refunds.

As a member of the Sacramento Coalition for Working Families (SCWF), Congresswoman Matsui is encouraging Sacramento residents to take advantage of SCWF's six super site tax assistance workshops. Individuals who make under $52,000 should be eligible for free tax assistance. And volunteers will be on hand to help these individuals determine their eligibility for the EITC.

Dates and locations for the 2014 super site tax assistance workshops are:

  • February 1st - Grant Union High School
  • February 8th - Hiram Johnson High School
  • February 22nd - Mexican Consulate
  • March 8th - Grant Union High School
  • April 5th - Samuel Pannell Community Center
  • April 12th andamp; 13th - Sacramento Food Bank andamp; Family Services

Individuals who are interested in taking advantage of the free tax assistance should make sure they schedule an appointment by calling 2-1-1. It is also important to bring necessary documentation to the appointment, including:

  • Photo identification (for them and their spouse, if filing jointly)
  • Social Security Card or ITIN for each family member
  • W-2 forms for all jobs held in 2013
  • All 1099 or 1098 forms
  • Child care provider information
  • Landlord's Name, Address and Phone number for the CA renter's credit

"The Earned Income Tax Credit is one of the federal government's most successful anti-poverty programs and is making life a little easier for working families who are struggling to make ends meet in this tight economy," said Congresswoman Matsui. "Our message is simple. If you have a job and earned less than $51,000 last year, you are eligible for free tax assistance and may be eligible for the EITC. I encourage everyone who thinks they might be eligible to take action."

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