Legal Aid of NC announces free tax preparation partnership
January 30, 2009 MEDIA RELEASE
(Greenville, NC) –
Legal Aid of North
Carolina (LANC) is partnering with the North Carolina
Clients Council (NCCC) and the Tyrell County Community Development
Corporation (Tyrell County CDC)
to offer free tax preparation for eligible taxpayers in the Washington, Tyrell and
Hyde county areas.
“This is a unique opportunity to help families who are reeling from
the national economic crisis,” said Willette Crews, statewide
coordinator of the
LANC
Tax Assistance Project. “LANC is
committed to helping eligible North Carolina workers claim the
Earned Income Tax Credits as a means to help them weather the
economic crisis and to allow them to build a better future.”
LANC focuses its tax preparation assistance to
low-income families who
are eligible for the
Earned Income Tax Credits (ETIC). The NC
Clients Council is composed of volunteers who have been served by
LANC and desire to expand education and services to others in the
low-income communities of North Carolina.
The Tyrell County CDC helps low-income residents with
financial literacy and their
entrepreneurial efforts.
“The economy is especially hard on families who live
in smaller areas because there are fewer support services,” said
Mary Hedgepeth, of the North Carolina Clients Council. “Free
tax preparation can save hundreds of dollars that families can
really use. We wanted to help get these programs
into more communities.”
For the first time, eligible North Carolina workers can claim
the new
North Carolina Earned Income Tax Credit (NC EITC) when they
file their 2008 taxes this year. The NC EITC will be worth 3.5
percent of the federal credit. For families with two or more
children, the two credits combined can be worth close to $5,000.
“This North Carolina EITC tax credit, the first the state has
offered, comes at a time when working families are uncertain about
their economic future,” said Janet Cowell, treasurer for the State
of North Carolina.
“Claiming both tax credits they’ve earned through this statewide
outreach campaign delivers on the promise that we are here to serve
the needs of working families while improving the state’s economy.”
According to
EITC Carolinas, eligible workers leave an estimated
$135 million or more in
federal EITC
dollars unclaimed every year in
North Carolina, costing the state at minimum
an additional $200 million in statewide economic stimulus. Many
workers may be eligible for the EITC even if they lost their jobs
during 2008. In addition to taxpayers who do not claim the tax
credit, even more money is lost to working people when they use paid
preparers and purchase costly rapid anticipation loans at high
interest rates.
The eligibility requirements for both the federal and NC EITC are
the same. Taxpayers who earned $42,000 or less may be eligible
for free income tax preparation services provided by IRS‐certified
preparers at LANC. Families earning up to $41,646 in 2008 will
qualify for the EITC, depending on their number of children and
their filing status. Single workers and those without children are
also eligible.
Workers who do not owe taxes or who are not required to file a tax
return are also eligible for EITC, but they must file a federal
return to receive the federal credit and a state return for the NC
EITC.
To make an appointment for free tax preparation, call the Tyrell County Community Development Corporation, 252-796-1991, or
the North Carolina Clients Council office in Rocky Mount,
252-972-2100, ext. 3100.
Legal Aid of North
Carolina (LANC) is a statewide nonprofit law
firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to eligible,
low-income residents. LANC serves all 100 counties of
North Carolina through 24 geographically
located offices across the state.
#
#
#
CONTACTS:
Willette Crews (Statewide Coordinator, Legal Aid of NC Tax Assistance
Program), Durham,
NC,
919-688-6396
Dock Kornegay (Director, Public Relations & Development, Legal
Aid of NC), Raleigh, NC; 919-856-2564
___________
SEE ALSO:
Legal
Aid of NC announces free tax preparation partnership in
Rocky Mount Area
(January 30, 2009 Media Release)
Legal
Aid of NC announces free tax preparation partnership with
NCA&T
(January 30, 2009 Media Release)
Disclaimer
The materials contained on this website
are for information and educational purposes only and do not
constitute legal advice.
Also please note that Legal Aid of North Carolina does not
provide legal assistance by E-mail. Contact your Legal Aid of
North Carolina office or a private attorney if you need to speak
to an attorney regarding your particular situation.
See our
complete disclaimer.
Mission Statement
Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that
provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in
order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers
to economic opportunity.