Together, Strengthening Working Families: The Federal and State Earned Income Tax Credits

Goodwill Industries International Cosponsors Congressional Briefing – Thursday, January 24, 2013

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Goodwill Industries International joins the National Community Tax Coalition as one of 19 advocacy partners cosponsoring a Congressional briefing on the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and how it helps families become more financially secure. Many American workers may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a federal tax credit that can provide a crucial income boost benefiting individual workers with low to moderate incomes, their families and their communities. People have used the EITC to pay for necessities such as rent and bills as well as long-term investments such as savings, college educations and training courses, or retirement. As part of Goodwill's partnership with the IRS, more than 80 Goodwill agencies nationwide promote the EITC in their communities or operate Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites to provide free tax preparation services to people who qualify. The EITC is one of the nation's most successful policies for keeping six million Americans — about half of them children — from poverty levels and further reducing the effects for another 21 million people. EITC is linked to improvements in education and health outcomes; yet, one in five eligible families fail to claim it. With several improvements to the federal EITC extended through 2017, it's critical that we continue to preserve this tax-credit help for the families who need it and continue to raise awareness of its availability.

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WHO: Hosted by Goodwill Industries International, the National Community Tax Coalition, and advocacy partners, including:

WHAT:  A briefing for members of Congress, their staff, and news media about ways in which the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps working families and communities, as well as the need to protect it – at both the federal and state levels. The event comes on the eve of the IRS' annual EITC Awareness Day on January 25. Speakers will include:

• Roxy Caines, Senior Project Associate, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
• Debbie Stein, Vice President for Public Policy, The Hatcher Group
• Sharron Holquin, Recipient of the EITC, Gaithersburg, MD
• Sharon Strauss, provider of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) services in Montgomery County, MD
• Sean Noble, Director of Public Policy & Research, National Community Tax Coalition

WHEN: Thursday, January 24, 2013, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

WHERE: Room 385, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.

WHY: "By not filing for this credit, certain populations that qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) are missing out on millions of dollars of tax credits each year. Goodwill® aims to help ensure that everyone who qualifies for the EITC applies for it, and receives a valuable financial boost," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "Goodwill urges workers with low and moderate incomes, including those who come from rural or non-traditional families, to inquire about and claim this valuable tax credit, which is designed not only to encourage and reward work, but also to spur economic advancement for individuals and their families."

About Goodwill Industries International:

Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based, independent agencies in the United States and Canada with 14 affiliates in 13 other countries. Goodwill is one of the top 25 most inspiring companies (Forbes, 2012). Goodwill agencies are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 2,700 stores and online at www.shopgoodwill.com. Local Goodwill agencies also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food service preparation and document imaging and shredding. In 2011, more than 4.2 million people in the United States and Canada benefited from Goodwill's career services. Goodwill channels 82 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services. To find your local Goodwill, use the online locator at www.goodwill.org or call (800) GOODWILL. Find us on Facebook: GoodwillIntl or follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl

SOURCE Goodwill Industries International