affordable housing

updates

Earned Income Tax Credit (continued)

Each year, $12 billion EITC dollars are left on the table. UWMB and One Economy joined forces to help low-wage working people get up to $4,536 of their hard earned money back. By logging on the Boston Beehive Website, users were given free email addresses along with Web-based tools and information about financial services and federal and state income tax returns, including:

• An interactive eligibility quiz
• A tax filing tool through CompleteTax
• A Schedule C return filing tool for childcare providers and self-employed individuals
• Bi-lingual tools and content to help users pay off debt, open checking accounts, finance mortgage payments, invest in a 401(k)s, and use EITC refunds to start saving for a home, college or small business
• Easy to navigate information on education, jobs, healthcare, family and asset building

The UWMB/One Economy partnership is designed to augment existing VITA services and targets clients who do not meet income guidelines for VITA programming. To check out the Beehive’s EITC content simply link to the Website at www.beehiveboston.org/taxes

In addition to our support of the Boston Beehive, UWMB will continue to work with the City of Boston’s Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition http://www.cityofboston.gov/bra/eitc/.UWMB has received a $10,000 grant from Bank of America, designed to help individuals and families in Greater Boston obtain tax preparation assistance and unrealized tax refunds through the EITC. This grant is part of a national partnership between United Way of America and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation that will provide $500,000 in grants to two statewide and 31 local United Ways. Additionally, Bank of America associate volunteers will assist in tax preparation for qualified individuals and families eligible for EITC around the country.

For more information on UWMB’s EITC initiative, please go to http://www.uwmb.org/ourwork/housing-programs.html#eitc