The Campaign for Working Families Announces that 11 Free Tax Preparation Sites Open this Week in Philadelphia

New opportunity to purchase U.S. Savings Bonds

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- City officials and partners will join The Campaign for Working Families to announce the opening of 11 free tax preparation sites this week throughout Philadelphia.  January 28 is "Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Day," a nationwide effort to increase public awareness about the EITC and free tax preparation sites. New this tax season is the ability to buy U.S. Savings Bonds with a portion or all of your tax refund for yourself or others. At the conclusion of the event, a customer will travel to the Center City Super Tax Site to file her taxes and purchase a Savings Bond for her daughter.

WHEN/WHERE: Friday, January 28.

11:00 a.m., for presentations

Mayor's Reception Room, City Hall, Room 202

12:30 p.m., customer files taxes and purchase Savings Bond

Center City Super Tax Site, Mayor's Office of Community Services

1113 Chestnut Street

WHO: Khadijah Jones, director, The Campaign for Working Families; Joanna Smith-Ramani, director of strategy, Doorways to Dreams (D2D) Fund; James Daugherty, SPEC Territory Manager, IRS; LaSha' Bonner-Fincher, tax filer and Saving Bonds purchaser; City Councilwoman Marian Tasco; Otis Bullock Jr., executive director, Mayor's Office of Community Service; and Sharmain Matlock-Turner, president, Urban Affairs Coalition.  Bonner-Fincher, a single mom with a three-year-old daughter, will purchase a Savings Bond for her daughter.

DETAILS:

The Campaign for Working Families, a program partner of the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, boosts the number of people who receive FREE tax filing assistance and do not have to pay sky-high fees to commercial tax preparers.  The Campaign operates 11 community based tax sites that opened January 24, 2011.

Over the past eight years, the Campaign has brought $146.4 million directly into the homes of low-income working families.  And saved these families an additional estimated $20.2 million in interest, fees, and charges for tax preparation and check cashing, and loans.

The Campaign offers e-filing, direct deposit, U.S. Savings Bonds, FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completion and fairly-priced financial products to help you save money. This service allows working families and individuals to maximize federal and state tax credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

EITC is a tax benefit for families and individuals who earned, in 2010, less than $48,362 (have children) or less than $13,460 (no children).  EITC refunds can be up to $5,666 per year, based on family size and income.

The Campaign services are available to families earning $49,000 or less, and to individuals earning $20,000 or less. Taxes are prepared by IRS-certified volunteers.

The locations and hours of service of the Campaign's free tax sites are available on the website phillyfreetaxes.org or call 311.

Contact: Robin Robinowitz, [email protected]

SOURCE Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition