CSD Urges Californians to Claim Earned Income Tax Credit, Visit Local Free Tax Preparation Centers
January 27, 2017
Today, the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) and its local Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) partners highlight national Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day, a campaign to increase awareness about EITC and no-cost tax preparation sites for low-and-moderate-income workers.
“EITC is a highly effective antipoverty program for hard-working Californians,” said CSD Director Linné Stout. “The availability of free tax preparation services makes it easier for low-wage workers to file taxes and claim this cash back tax credit.”
EITC is a refundable tax credit that can put hundreds, even thousands, of dollars back in the pockets of working Californians. Last year, California created its own state Earned Income Tax Credit to supplement the federal EITC. When the federal and state EITC are combined, qualifying families can earn over $6,000 in EITC, just by filing their taxes.
Each year, CSD and CSBG agencies advocate for EITC awareness to reach workers who might miss out on the benefits of the refundable credits because they are either newly qualified for the credit, or not required to file tax returns. By claiming EITC and utilizing free tax preparation centers, Californians can keep every cent of their EITC refund to help pay bills, rent, groceries, medical costs or other important expenses.
Federal EITC in California
Currently, one out of five eligible workers do not claim the EITC they earned. For those Californians who claimed the federal EITC in 2016, the average benefit was $2,409. The amount of cash back tax credits working individuals and families qualify for under the state and federal EITC depends on income and family size. Californians with up to a maximum income of $53,505 may receive cash back by claiming the federal EITC on their tax return. Additionally, for families only earning up to $14,161, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) may supplement the federal EITC when a state tax return is filed. If you qualify for EITC, you must file federal and state income tax returns and claim the credits to get them, even if you owe no tax or aren’t required to file a return.
Free Tax Preparation Services
This year, 42 local CSBG agencies and IRS certified income tax volunteers are partnering to open 108 local free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) centers statewide. Eligible individuals earning less than $54,000 can qualify for free tax preparation. Californians can get more information by visiting CalEITC4Me.org for a complete listing of all free tax preparation service centers in California or by contacting one of the CSBG agencies offering free tax preparation services listed below:
Alameda County: Alameda County-Oakland Community Action Partnership
Partnering with 2-1-1 Alameda
For more information call 2-1-1, email info@edenir.org, or visit www.edenir.org/
Alameda County: Berkeley Community Action Agency
For more information call (510) 981-5428, email wywong@cityofberkeley.info, or visit www.cityofberkeley.info.
Amador County: Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency
For more information call (209) 223-1485 (Amador) or (209) 533-1397 (Tuolumne), email daventi@atcaa.org or tnobriga@atcaa.org or visit www.atcaa.org
Butte County: Community Action Agency of Butte County, Inc.
For more information call (530) 712-2883, email spowell@buttecaa.com, or visit www.buttecaa.com.
Colusa County: Glenn County Human Resource Agency
Partnering with Colusa, Glenn, Trinity Community Action Partnership
For more information call (530) 865-6129, or visit www.cgtcap.org.
Contra Costa County: Contra Costa County Employment & Human Services Department, Community Services Bureau
Partnering with Brighter Beginnings
For more information call (925) 681-6308, email nsparks@ehsd.cccounty.us, or visit www.ehsd.org.
Del Norte County: Del Norte Senior Center
Partnering with AARP Senior Tax-Aide Volunteer Tax Preparation Services Program
For more information call (707) 464-3069 or visit www.delnorteseniorcenter.org.
Del Norte County: Redwood Community Action Agency
Partnering with the United Way of the Wine Country
For more information call (707) 269-2027, or visit www.unitedwaywinecountry.org.
El Dorado County: Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission
Partnering with AARP Senior Tax-Aide Volunteer Tax Preparation Services Program
For more information call (530) 621-6255, or visit http://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/.
Fresno County: Alameda County-Oakland Community Action Partnership
For more information call (559) 264-1048, email shawn.riggins@fresnoeoc.org, or visit www.fresnoeoc.org/lcc/stories/post/free-tax-filing-event.
Glenn County: Glenn County Human Resource Agency
Partnering with Colusa, Glenn, Trinity Community Action Partnership
For more information call (530) 865-6129, or visit www.cgtcap.org.
Humboldt County: Redwood Community Action Agency
Partnering with the United Way of the Wine Country
For more information call (707) 269-2027, or visit www.unitedwaywinecountry.org.
Imperial County: Campesinos Unidos, Inc.
For more information call (760) 370-5100 Ext 5131, email ilopez@campesinosunidos.org, or visit www.campesinosunidos.org.
Imperial County: Center for Employment Training
For more information call (408) 534-5413, email pdo@cet2000.org, or visit http://cetweb.org/.
Inyo County: Inyo Mono Advocates for Community Action, Inc.
Partnering with AARP Volunteer Tax-Aide Program
For more information call 1(888) 687-2277, search www.aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/searchTaxAideLocations.action, or visit www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/.
Kern County: Community Action Partnership of Kern
For more information call 2-1-1 or (661) 834-1724, email vita@capk.org, or visit www.capk.org.
Kings County: Community Services Employment Training, Inc.
For more information call (559) 732-4194, email albert.cendejas@cset.org, or visit www.cset.org.
Kings County: Kings Community Action Organization, Inc.
For more information call (559) 904-8854, email sperico@kcao.org, or visit www.kcao.org.
Lake County: North Coast Opportunities
Partnering with United Way of the Wine Country, First 5 Mendocino, Mendocino College, and Mendo Lake Credit Union
For more information call (707) 467-3236 or visit www.ncoinc.org.
Los Angeles County: City of Los Angeles, Community Development Department
Partnering with FamilySource Centers
For more information call (866) 557-7368, TTY (213) 473-3231, email hcidla.contact@lacfModoity.org, or visit http://hcidla.lacity.org/family-source-centers.
Los Angeles County: Foothill Unity Center, Inc.
For more information call (626) 358-3486, email tashera@foothillunitycenter.org, or visit www.foothillunitycenter.org.
Los Angeles County: Long Beach Community Action Partnership
For more information call (562) 216-4600 or visit www.lbcap.org.
Madera County: Community Action Partnership of Madera County, Inc.
Partnering with United Way of Fresno-Madera
For more information call (559) 673-9173, contact at www.maderacap.org/TextPages/contact_us.aspx, or visit www.maderacap.org.
Marin County: Community Action Marin
For more information call (415) 526-7500, email cam@camarin.org, or visit www.camarin.org.
Mendocino County: North Coast Opportunities
Partnering with United Way of the Wine Country, First 5 Mendocino, Mendocino College, and Mendo Lake Credit Union
For more information call (707) 467-3236 or visit www.ncoinc.org.
Mono County: Inyo Mono Advocates for Community Action, Inc.
Partnering with AARP Volunteer Tax-Aide Program
For more information call 1(888) 687-2277, search www.aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/searchTaxAideLocations.action, or visit www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/.
Monterey County: Center for Employment Training
For more information call (408) 534-5413, email pdo@cet2000.org, or visit http://cetweb.org/.
Monterey County: Monterey County Community Action Partnership
Partnering with United Way Monterey County
For more information call (831) 757-3206 Ext: 205, email aranyani.azevedo@unitedwaymcca.org, or visit www.unitedwaymcca.org.
Nevada County: Nevada County Department of Housing and Community Services
Partnering with 2-1-1 Nevada County
For more information call 2-1-1 or (530) 265-7097 email snrdcss@co.nevada.ca.us, or visit http://211nevadacounty.org/.
Orange County: Community Action Partnership of Orange County
For more information call (714) 826-9070 or (714) 532-3595, email rrenteria@capoc.org, or visit www.capoc.org.
Riverside County: Center for Employment Training
For more information call (408) 534-5413, email pdo@cet2000.org, or visit http://cetweb.org/.
Riverside County: Community Action Partnership of Riverside County
Partnering with Community Action Partnership of Riverside County
For more information call 951955-6488, email cclinton@capriverside.org, or visit www.capriverside.org.
Sacramento County: Sacramento Employment and Training Agency
Partnering with Sacramento Coalition for Working Families/United Way California Capital Region
For more information call (916) 368-3000, or visit www.yourlocalunitedway.org/contact-us.
San Benito County: San Benito County, Department of Community Services & Workforce Development
For more information call (831) 637-9293 Ext. 25, email iserrano@cosb.us, or visit www.sbccab.wix.com/cab1.
San Bernardino County: Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County
For more information call (909) 723-1571, email thill@capsbc.org, or visit www.capsbc.org.
San Diego County: Community Action Partnership San Diego County
Partnering with 2-1-1 San Diego
For more information call 2-1-1 or (858) 300-1211, email 211helps@211sandiego.org, or visit www.211sandiego.org.
San Joaquin County: San Joaquin County Department of Aging and Community Services
For more information call (209) 468-1549, email eboyette@sjgov.org, or visit http://www.sjchsa.org/.
San Luis Obispo County: Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, Inc.
Partnering with United Way of San Luis Obispo
For more information call (805) 544-4355 Ext. 480, email ddornan@capslo.org, or visit www.capslo.org.
San Mateo County: San Mateo County Human Services Agency
Partnering with Samaritan House
For more information call (650) 347-3648, email saul@samaritanhousesanmateo.org, or visit http://samaritanhousesanmateo.org/.
Santa Barbara County: Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County, Inc.
Partnering with United Way of Santa Barbara County
For more information call (805) 922-0329, email www.liveunitedsbc.org/contact-us, or visit www.liveunitedsbc.org/.
Santa Barbara County: Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, Inc.
Partnering with United Way of Santa Barbara
For more information call (805) 544-4355 Ext. 480, email ddornan@capslo.org, or visit www.capslo.org.
Santa Clara County: Sacred Heart Community Service
For more information call (408) 278-2198, email luisc@sacredheartcs.org, or visit www.sacredheartcs.org.
Santa Cruz County: Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Inc.
Partnering with Santa Cruz Community Ventures and Santa Cruz Community Credit Union
For more information call 1-(877) 373-8297, email vita@sccvonline.org, or visit www.sccvonline.org.
Shasta County: Shasta County Community Action Agency
Partnering with Goodwill
For more information call (530) 351-7600, email info@myfreetaxes.com or contactus@goodwill.org, or visit www.unitedway.org/myfreetaxes/sacramentovalley.
Siskiyou County: Karuk Tribe of California
For more information call (530) 493-1600, email flopez@karuk.us, or visit www.karuk.us.
Solano County: Community Action Partnership of Solano County Joint Powers Authority
Partnering with Travis Credit Union
For more information call 2-1-1 or visit https://www.traviscu.org/my-life/blogs/financial-wellness/jan-2017/you-may-be-eligible-for-vitas-free-tax-preparation/
Sonoma County: Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County
For more information call (707) 544-6911, email mwatts@capsonoma.org, or visit www.capsonoma.org.
Tehama County: Tehama County Community Action Agency
For more information call (530) 527-2611, email toquinn@tcdss.org, or visit www.tehamacountyCAA.org.
Trinity County: Glenn County Human Resource Agency
Partnering with Colusa, Glenn, Trinity Community Action Partnership
For more information call (530) 865-6129, or visit www.cgtcap.org.
Tulare County: Community Services Employment Training, Inc.
For more information call (559) 732-4194, email albert.cendejas@cset.org, or visit www.cset.org.
Tuolumne County: Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency
For more information call (209) 223-1485 (Amador) or (209) 533-1397 (Tuolumne), email daventi@atcaa.org or tnobriga@atcaa.org or visit www.atcaa.org
Ventura County: Community Action of Ventura County, Inc.
Partnering with United Way of Ventura County
For more information call (805) 485-6288, email info@vcunitedway.org, or visit https://vcunitedway.org/.
Yolo County: County of Yolo, Department of Employment and Social Services
Partnering with Yolo Center for Families
For more information call (530) 406-7221 or visit http://yolofamilies.org/.