Free Tax Help Available to Low-Income Illinois Families

Services begin Saturday, January 22 in nearly 30 communities

CHICAGO, Jan. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With jobs disappearing and wages declining, low-income families in Illinois need their tax refund more than ever. The Center for Economic Progress (CEP) will be in nearly 30 Illinois communities this tax season to provide low-income families with the free tax and financial services they need to move towards more solid financial ground.

“It’s no secret that times are tough, and hard‐working, low-income families have been hit hardest,” said David Marzahl, President at the Center for Economic Progress. “CEP works ensure that all families have a fair chance at financial security, and thanks to our dedicated volunteer corps, we plan to return more than $50 million in refunds to 30,000 families and their communities in 2011.”

For low-income families, a tax refund is likely the largest lump sum they will receive all year and often their best chance to stop the cycle of debt thanks to credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), worth up to $5,666 for families who worked in 2010.

To help clients make the most of their refunds and plan for the future, bank and credit union partners will be onsite at CEP tax sites to help clients open checking and savings accounts. Some CEP sites will also offer prepaid debit cards and assistance with filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)—taking aim at a major barrier to success for low-income and first‐generation students by helping them obtain need-based financial aid.

Families who earned less than $50,000 and individuals who earned less than $25,000 in 2010 are eligible for CEP’s services. Those interested in having their taxes prepared should bring the following items with them to the tax sites: all W-2 and 1099 forms; Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) for all family members; valid photo ID; copy of last year’s tax return; copy of most recent property tax bill; bank account number and routing number for direct deposit of refund; and the amount spent on college expenses.

Most tax sites are open from Saturday, January 22 until Monday, April 18. In Chicago, CEP’s free tax and financial services are available in Ashburn, Auburn Gresham, Lawndale, Loop, Pilsen, Quad Communities, Uptown, West Garfield Park and West Haven. In Chicago suburbs and northern Illinois, services are available in Aurora, Crystal Lake, Elgin, Harvey, Joliet, Rockford and Waukegan. In central and southern Illinois, services are available in Bloomington, Champaign, Decatur, East Alton, East St. Louis, Karnak, Macomb, Marion, Normal, Peoria, Rock Island and Springfield. For more information, call 1-888-827-8511 or TTY (312) 701-1326 or visit www.economicprogress.org. All tax sites are ADA accessible.

About the Center for Economic Progress

Founded in 1990, the Center for Economic Progress (CEP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping hardworking, low-income families move from financial uncertainty to financial security. Operating one of the largest and oldest statewide tax preparation programs in the country, CEP has helped more than 270,000 families and returned nearly $400 million in refunds to Illinois communities.

SOURCE Center for Economic Progress