Erie Community Foundation

THE EITC PROGRAM COMES HOME

In August of this year, the EITC Program was brought in-house, carving out yet another niche for itself, this time in a quiet residential Erie neighborhood. After transitioning from a governing structure headed by 5 local non-profit organizations, Erie FREE Taxes has assumed its place under the mantle of The Erie Community Foundation with its program director, Cheryl Bates, taking up residence on the third floor of the historic Siegel-McDougle House.

The ongoing support of The Erie Community Foundation allows Erie FREE Taxes to pursue its commitment to providing competent, county-wide free tax preparation service to low-to-moderate income workers while continuing in its organizational evolution.

Now in its 4th tax season, Erie FREE Taxes has 18 VITA sites throughout the city and county and is recruiting volunteers to provide free tax preparation service at these host sites. This season, eight Erie County School Districts have joined the campaign and are donating space and equipment, conducting outreach efforts, and offering a “doors are open” invitation to tax payers who meet eligibility requirements to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit. They are the North East School District, Union City and Corry Area School Districts, Wattsburg Area School District, Harbor Creek and Iroquois School Districts, and Girard and Northwestern School Districts, as well as Edinboro University. City-based sites will be housed in 8 social service organizations throughout the city in order to address the wide girth of claimants’ locations.
Having focused extensive outreach efforts on raising awareness about the EITC within the world of local business and within Erie county’s diverse populations (rural, homeless and disabled populations, workers for whom English is a Second Language), Erie FREE Taxes is gearing up to build upon the success of the 2008 tax season.

2009 VITA SITES STATS-AT-A-GLANCE

Week EndingNumber of Returns FiledNumber of EITC ClaimsTotal EITC RefundsTotal Refunds
2/9/09367257$498,829$577,785
2/15/09616416$784,197$1,142,939
2/22/09776501$937,305$1,466,976
2/28/09946591$1,044,843$1,718,175
3/9/091,121712$1,137,198$2,019,522
3/16/091,278717$1,193,750$2,106,218
3/23/091,334752$1,230,970$2,193,147
3/30/091,430786$1,262,454$2,269,673
4/5/091508819$1,285,079$2,334,984
4/17/091771911$1,357,769$2,534,544

Taxpayer Savings in 2009: $220,125

If you would like further information, visit the website Erie FREE Taxes or please contact: Cheryl Bates, Program Director, at 814-454-0843
More information is available by accessing these brochures and presentations -
  • Erie Free Taxes brochure
  • Earned Income Tax Credit Advance
  • Erie Free Taxes Presentation - English Version
  • Erie Free Taxes Presentation - Spanish Version

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