Low-income families and senior citizens can get free tax assistance this year as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance initiative being offered by the Build Your Money Coalition of Schenectady County.
The City of Schenectady, Schenectady Department of Social Services, Union College and other local agencies joined the United Way last year to form the coalition, which assists low-income residents with their tax returns.
The start of the initiative, which is coordinated by the United Way of Schenectady County, was announced last week at a news conference in the rotunda of Schenectady City Hall.
“One of the most critical problems facing Schenectady County today is the instability of low-income families,” said Karen Bilowith, United Way of Schenectady County president.
The initiative not only provides a means for residents to learn about the tax credits available to them, but also protects them from the fees charged by private tax agencies, she said.
The initiative more than doubled the number of tax returns completed without charge last year for families with a household income of $35,000 or less. Tax assistance volunteers helped those eligible apply for some $468,000 in earned income tax and other credits for children and education.
The earned income tax credit is the nation's largest anti-poverty program. Enacted by Congress in 1975 and expanded in the 1990s, the credit has helped millions of Americans make the transition from public assistance to economic independence.
The initiative assists people not only with the earned income tax credit, but also provides information on financial literacy and asset-building programs.
“We need to encourage seniors and low-income individuals to take advantage of the program,” said Mayor Brian Stratton. The rise in home heating fuel costs and gas prices hits no one harder than already hard-pressed seniors, he said.
The coalition builds on the existing efforts of several community agencies that have offered free tax assistance to clients in the past. It strengthens these efforts by providing site schedules, recruitment and training of volunteers and coordinated dissemination of information about the free initiative.
“Things just seem to come together for everyone involved in this program,” said Dawn Oliver, director of temporary and medical assistance for the Schenectady Department of Social Services. “We're looking forward to helping the people of Schenectady by doing even more (tax) returns this year.”