“Working families could miss out on important federal tax benefits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Chlld Tax Credit (CTC), because they simply do not know about them,” said Jack Byham, chair of the Laredo Family Economic Success Coalition (LFESC), which delivers the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
“The EITC and the CTC can make a real difference for workers who are struggling to make ends meet,” he added, noting that VITA is offering free tax preparation services in the 2019 tax filing season to working families at 17 sites throughout Webb and Zapata counties. “Individuals can get free help determining their EITC and CTC eligibility and claiming the credits.”
The EITC is a refundable tax credit available to qualifying lower-wage workers and their families. Workers earning less than about $50,000 from wages, self-employment, or farming in 2018 could qualify. Many people will qualify for the first time this year due to changes in their income, their marital status, or parental status, according to the IRS. The IRS estimates that four out of five eligible workers currently claim their EITC.
“We want to raise the number to five out of five,” said Byham. “Thanks to our trained and IRS-certified volunteer work force, we hope to assist more than 5,300 tax clients this year.”
The CTC is available to workers with children earning more than $3,000. A qualifying child must be under age 17.A family’s tax refund also offers the opportunity to put some money into savings. To have their taxes prepared, residents should bring income documents from all jobs worked throughout the year as well as their social security number, and a valid photo ID.
The EITC is one of the nation’s largest and most effective anti-poverty programs. In 2015, the EITC lifted an estimated 6.5 million people out of poverty, more than half of them children.
17 PREPARATION SITES IN ZAPATA & WEBB COUNTIES
VITA will run 17 tax sites throughout Webb and Zapata counties during the 2019 filing season. Sites will be open from January 19 to April 15, 2019. VITA’s free tax services are available at the following locations: Azteca Economic Development, Boys and Girls Club, Bruni Library, Catholic Charities, Cigarroa High School, Goodwill Job Help Center, José A Valdez High School, Laredo College (South), Laredo College (Main), Laredo Public Library (Main), Martin High School, Consulado General Mexicano, NeighborWorks Laredo, Nixon High School, Texas A&M International University, Workforce Solutions for South Texas, and in Zapata at the Zapata County Technical and Advanced Education Center (ZTAC).
WANTED: MORE VOLUNTEERS & MORE TAXPAYERS
VITA is raising awareness of these services by advertising early this year and in as many media outlets as possible, including local television stations and publications and on social media. “VITA advertises in order to attract more volunteers to participate in the program as well as more taxpayers to take advantage of free tax help, “ Byham said. “We want to grow our program. Only about 5 percent of those eligible to claim EITC in Webb and Zapata counties are using VITA’s free tax preparation services. Our program is designed exactly to help those with low to moderate income who could benefit from keeping 100 percent of their return. A paid preparer might offer quick service, but there is a charge. VITA offers free electronic filing, and taxpayers receive their refunds in about a week on average,” he added.
Byham said that if the EITC or CTC is claimed, the IRS does not issue refunds until mid-February — an IRS rule, not a VITA rule.
BECOME A VITA VOLUNTEER
VITA volunteers are IRS-certified to prepare taxes and are unpaid. Training classes are now underway, and a schedule of classes is available at vitavolunteer.org/volunteer
“We never turn down a volunteer. We can help them certify, even after our regular training session has completed,” Byham said.
For more information, call the VITA hotline at (956) 307-8138 or visit VITA on the web at vitalaredo.org
