Rilling, Himes to Talk about Tax Credit for Low-Income Working Families

On Thursday, Jan. 30, the Norwalk VITA Coalition, and the Connecticut Association for Human Services (CAHS) will be joined by Mayor Harry W. Rilling of Norwalk, as well as United States Congressman Jim Himes at 10:00 a.m., at Norwalk Community College to talk about a tax credit that could mean as much as $6,044 in the federal income tax refund for low-income working families. 

To help families looking to save their tax refund for a rainy day or unforeseen expenses, CAHS is encouraging tax filers at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites to direct deposit a portion of their refund in savings and a portion in checking. If the tax filer does not have a traditional bank account they are coached on the benefits of safe guarding their money in a local bank.
“VITA is more than just free tax preparation,” said James Horan in a release. Horan is the Executive Director of CAHS, an organization that helps to coordinate the VITA campaign across the state.

“It ensures that working families have access to valuable tax credits without having to pay high fees. In addition, VITA connects families to other free services that provide them with the tools to leverage those tax refunds into long-lasting financial stability.” 

Two free VITA tax centers in Norwalk are set to open next week. In 2013, VITA centers in Norwalk prepared over 200 tax returns, saving taxpayers an estimated $34,000 in tax preparation fees and returning over $342,000 in tax refunds to local families. 

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, part of a nationwide initiative, offers families a free and easy way to access refunds and tax credits. VITA provides free federal and state tax return preparation to households earning less than $52,000 per year. Taxes are prepared by IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers at many convenient locations throughout the 
region. 

Residents can call 2-1-1 or visit www.211ct.org to find the closest location. For more information about federal or state EITC eligibility, please visit www.irs.gov or www.ct.gov/drs/
eitc. This year’s VITA campaign is made possible through the generous support of the following funders: IRS, the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup. 

About the Connecticut Association for Human Services 

Located in the state’s capital city, the Connecticut Association for Human Services (CAHS), a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, uniquely combines outreach into working poor communities at the neighborhood level with broad-based policy work at the state and federal level. Founded in 1910, CAHS is focused on helping families and children build the skills and assets they need for lasting economic success, strengthening Connecticut’s economy, and improving its workforce.

In addition to advocacy and outreach, CAHS publishes consumer guides, policy briefs, and KIDS COUNT, a highly-regarded data and policy book supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. For more about CAHS, please visit www.cahs.org.