EITC Campaign 2011

Letter from Department of Social Services: RE: EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT OUTREACH PUBLICATIONS –
2010 REVISIONS

What is the EITC?
The Earned Income tax Credit (EITC) is a federal refundable tax credit that is designed to lower the tax burden on low-income working families and stimulate the economy. Even workers whose income is too small to pay taxes can receive a refund though the EITC.

Message and Benefits of the EITC:

  • The EITC is widely recognized as the federal government's most effective antipoverty program, lifting millions of low-income families and children out of poverty every year while incentivizing work and stimulating local economies.
  • An estimated 2.4 million California residents claimed $4.95 billion in EITC refunds in 2009. Spending these refunds, spurred an estimated $5.5 billion in sales for California businesses, which in turn created 33,000 jobs paying $1.32 billion in new wages, and brought $390.5 million in tax revenue to state and local governments.
  • An estimated eight hundred thousand Californians left 1.2 billion dollars in tax credits unclaimed in 2009.  This money could have generated $1.4 billion in sales and 8,200 jobs.

Note: Data from the New America Foundation report, Left on the Table, 2010.

The Goal of the EITC Campaign is to:

  • Cut the number of Californians who miss out on the EITC in half by 2013 by ensuring that 400,000 more Californians apply for the EITC than in 2009.

Target Audience for the EITC:

  • Individuals/Families who may be eligible: A person must have earned income, not be claimed as a dependent, and make under $49,000/year.  The size of the refund depends on if there are children and other criteria.

Partners who can reach the target audience:

  • Non-Profit/Community-Based/Advocacy Organizations: increase awareness through publications and events, mobilizing people/youth e.g., organizing workshops, and partnering with employers and tax preparation companies.
  • Elected Officials: increase awareness and build connections with their constituents through EITC outreach publicity and events including placing links on websites, issuing press releases, mentioning EITC in speeches, filming and placing PSAs, and partnering with employers and tax preparation companies.

EITC 2011 Campaign Strategy - cont’d

How to Claim the EITC:
To claim the EITC, individuals must file a tax return. Families making below $42,000 can have their taxes done for free at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site. Individuals can find a VITA site by calling the IRS at 1-800-906-9887 or visiting the National Community Tax Coalition website at www.tax-coalition.org. More information about the EITC is available at: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96406,00.html

Tactics include:

  • Issue a Public Service Announcement, press release or an Op-Ed. Press can be tied to EITC Awareness Day in January or to the opening of the VITA sites to reinforce the availability of assistance and timeliness. Otherwise, the ideal time to submit this op-ed is in February or March, when people are more likely to be preparing their taxes.
  • Celebrate EITC Awareness Day. The Internal Revenue Service has declared the last week day in January (Monday, January 28, 2011) as federal EITC Awareness Day. You may celebrate by issuing proclamations or holding events. To learn more about EITC Awareness Day please go to: http://eitc.irs.gov and http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=178072,00.html.
  • Conduct a Tax Assistance Site Visit. The VITA program is available nationwide and offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income people. VITA sites are usually located at community centers, libraries, schools, malls or other convenient locations. Most locations also offer free electronic filing. A great way to draw attention to VITA sites is by conducting a site visit and inviting the media. To locate the nearest VITA site in your district or state, call 1-800-829-1040.
Partner with County Agencies. The State Department of Social Services (DSS) has reached out to county departments, which typically have the most contact with eligible individuals, to actively promote EITC awareness.  See the attached DSS letter or go to: http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/lettersnotices/entres/getinfo/acin/2010/I-103_10.pdf

 

ADDITIONAL EITC MATERIALS:

EITC Public Service Announcement Script

EITC Sample Press Release

 

 

 


.