Hope you can help us spread the word about free tax help on the Island through your blog. This week, United Way kicks off our annual free tax program, Earn It! Keep It! Save It! In the city of Alameda, free tax assistance will be available to low-income families at Chipman Middle School and Mastick Senior Center throughout this tax season.

Chipman Middle School
401 Pacific Ave.
510.814.4216
Dates: 2/6–4/10
Sat: 10am–4pm
By Appt., Walk-In
Spanish

Mastick Senior Center—AARP
1155 Santa Clara Ave.
510.747.7500
Dates: 2/1–4/15
Mon & Tue: 9am–12pm;
Wed: 11:30am–2:30pm
Thur: 9am–12pm
Appt. Only

Here are some key points about the program:

• During these though times, there is good news for low-income Alameda County families – all households that earned less than $52,000 in 2009 are eligible for free tax-filing assistance from Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Alameda.
• Families that participate in Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Alameda can save up to $360 by avoiding fees and “rapid refund” loans promoted by commercial tax preparers.
• The program will operate 39 sites throughout the county from now through April. A complete list of Alameda County sites is available on the back side of our flyer.
• The coalition that runs the program strives to build awareness about the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the nation’s largest benefits program for low-income families, which can return up to 10% of annual income for eligible families. Unfortunately, 1 in 4 eligible families do not claim this credit.
• Over the last several years, the EITC benefit has grown significantly, from just over $4,000 to $5,657, the maximum possible credit for Tax Year 2009. This year, the EITC maximum income eligibility is $48,279; and the maximum possible credit is $5,657. This is most likely the largest lump-sum payment a low-wage, working family (including people who have lost their jobs during the recession) will receive all year.
• Last year, Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Alameda returned more than $12 million in total refunds — including $4.5 million in EITC dollars – to the pockets of Alameda County residents and back to the local economy.

The complete press release is available here: http://www.uwba.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/press-release.pdf

We would appreciate your help in spreading the word.