Community VITA Grants Program for 2010
The Center for Economic Progress and National Community Tax Coalition took the lead in lobbying for this new grant program. The focus is on underserved populations and hard-to-reach communities. We are excited that there will be more money for the community VITA field to reach and serve these vulnerable populations. Applications are due July 17
Read more and download the application package.
Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic Grant application available
The
IRS has announced that the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic Grant application
package for 2010 is now available; the IRS will award up to $6 million in matching funds to qualifying organizations, and the applications are due by July 7, 2009.
Download the Grant Application Package and Guidelines, IRS Publication 3319 (Rev. 5-2009), or order from the IRS Distribution Center by calling 1-800-829-3676.
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National Community Tax Coalition 2009 Conference
Realizing the Dream: Promoting Financial Opportunity in All Communities
These are tough times – for working families more than most. Change is in the air, though, and there’s never been a better time to help low-income families connect to the tax and financial tools they need to get ahead. Join the National Community Tax Coalition this year in San Antonio, Texas as we tackle new obstacles and opportunities in the tax and asset-building fields. The 2009 Conference will play a key national role in creating and sharing strategies and practices that help low-income working families achieve their American Dream.
Read more about the conference, which takes place in San Antonio, Texas, August 31 –September 1, 2009. Be an Early Bird! Register by Monday, June 15th.
National Conference scholarships
The National Community Tax Coalition will provide a limited number of scholarships for community-based tax preparation programs for the upcoming NCTC Conference-Realizing the Dream: Promoting Financial Opportunity in All Communities. Scholarship applications close June 30, 2009.
Read more about conference scholarships.
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NCTC welcomes new Steering Committee members
We are excited to announce the results of the election for new members to the National Community Tax Coalition’s Steering Committee. For the first time, paid NCTC affiliates were allowed to nominate and vote for new members. This year, we had four slots open and the four candidates receiving the most votes were elected. The new Steering Committee members are:
- Sarah Ruppel, Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation (Detroit Lakes, MN)
- Kaye Schmitz, Real$ense Prosperity Campaign, (Jacksonville, FL)
- Joanna Smith-Ramani, Baltimore CASH Campaign (Baltimore, MD)
- Brenda Williams, Family Financial Literacy Coalition, Community Link (Charlotte, NC)
New asset building partnership in Florida
The Florida Prosperity Partnership, a newly created statewide collaborative has been hard at work. Their membership, a diverse and broad-based group engaged in advocacy or direct services on behalf of building assets for working families, has convened a series of regional meetings throughout the state in order to recruit other coalitions, agencies and community organizations to join their work. In June, the Partnership will hold its First Annual State Summit in Orlando, FL. Alex Sink, the State of Florida Chief Financial Officer, serves as the Honorary Chair of the Partnership and will deliver a keynote address at the Summit.
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Seattle report on effectiveness of free tax sites
A recently released study, completed by masters’ students at the University of Washington in partnership with the United Way of King County and other partners, assesses the effectiveness of free tax preparation sites and the impact of the EITC and the Washington Working Families Credit on their community. The effort was inspired by information from Communities Count about increases in poverty levels and unemployment in King County. Components of the report include a series of maps highlighting the distribution of free and paid tax prep sites, an analysis of uptake rates across the region, the results of a bilingual survey done at the tax prep sites, and an analysis of the economic impact of the EITC and the unfunded Working Families Credit. The report concludes with some policy and program suggestions.
Some major findings:
- EITC funds stimulate the economy and create jobs.
- Washington’s low-income taxpayers leave EITC money on the table.
- Moderately-high levels of EITC uptake occur in areas without United Way
sites.
- EITC recipients in zip codes without United Way tax preparation sites may use
commercial tax preparation services more often.
- Low-income tax payers in Washington are spending millions of dollars
annually on paid tax preparation.
- The EITC is not well known by survey respondents.
- Low-income taxpayers in King County spend refunds on basic needs.
- Survey respondents would use an increase in their tax refund for basic needs
and to augment savings.
- Foreign-born tax payers and tax payers with dependents are more likely to
save an increase in tax refunds.
The South Texas Adult Resource & Training Center
Cameron County, located on the U.S. / Mexico border in Texas, has one of the lowest literacy rates in the country and nearly half of its population lives below the national poverty line. In 1992 a group of residents came together to discuss the possibility of providing classes in English for community members. This initial discussion led to the establishment of the San Benito Literacy Center later that year. In 2004 the Center expanded its programming to meet the growing demand for services – changing its name to the South Texas Adult Resource and Training Center (START Center).
Read the full program profile.
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Increase funding for VITA programs
Congress is currently reviewing the budget for FY 2010 - including funding for VITA programs. We are asking that Congress increase federal funding for the VITA Grant Program to $14 million. NCTC believes that increased funding is needed to ensure that community tax preparers can meet the constant demand for our services. Over the next month the Appropriations Committees in the House and Senate will put together the budget - deciding what they want and do not want to fund in 2010.
Of the 12 Appropriations bills, the VITA Grant falls under the Financial Services Subcommittee in both houses. Therefore, it is crucial that we target our advocacy efforts on the Members of that Committee. NCTC is currently mobilizing our affiliates to take action. Click here to take action. If you would like to stay updated on funding for the VITA grant and other policy issues affecting low-wage workers, sign up to receive our monthly advocacy alerts.
In the blog
Cap-and-Trade Bill will Offset Costs to Low-Income Consumers
Paid Bloggers Promoting Payday Lending
Visit us at http://www.workforward.org/.
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National Community Tax Coalition Informational Session
Tuesday, June 16
This web seminar/audio conference will introduce you to the technical assistance and communication services that National Community Tax Coalition (NCTC) can provide to you and your organization. You can also find out what NCTC is doing to support the free tax preparation and asset building field and learn about our recent successes. Most importantly, learn how your participation in the Coalition can help to build your program and the field.
More details of the NCTC Informational Session.
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Tax Help Program Manager, Great Falls
Looking for someone to run the Tax Help Montana program from training volunteers across the state to managing partner relationships. Last year Tax Help Montana served over 5,500 families across the state with 38 tax site locations. For more information contact Karen Heisler at 406-454-5707.
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Tuesday, June 16
National Community Tax Coalition Informational Session
This web seminar/audio conference will introduce you to the technical assistance and communication services that National Community Tax Coalition (NCTC) can provide for you and your organization. You can also find out what NCTC is doing to support the free tax preparation and asset building field and learn about our recent successes. Most importantly, learn how your participation in the Coalition can help to build your program and the field.
More details of the NCTC Informational Session.
August 31—September 1
NCTC National Conference, San Antonio
Data Collection
Patch Notice v8.3 for the NTA Tool
This is a second patch for the March shipment of the NTA application (v8.1). Once applied, the main menu will show the application to be v8.3 (bottom-right).The new patch is mainly intended for users (fully or partially) of the online version of TaxWise; so if you are using TaxWise Desktop only, installing Patch v8.3 is optional. [PDF, 61KB, posted 5/27/09]
National Tax Assistance (NTA) Tool Basic Training
This recorded web seminar provides a general overview of the NTA application and how it can improve your organization. [22MB, 60 min., posted 5/12/09]
National Tax Assistance (NTA) Tool Advanced Web Weminar
This recorded web seminar delves into the inner workings of the NTA application. [22MB, 55 min., posted 5/22/09]
Installation Instructions for NCTC Generic Version of NTA Application
Detailed instructions for installing the generic version for the 2009 tax filing season. [PDF, 15KB, posted 5/22/09]
Customizing Your NTA Application
Detailed instructions for customizing the generic version (8.x) NTA software application to match your TaxWise preparer use fields. [PDF, 401KB, posted 5/22/09]
VITA Grant 2010
VITA Grant Application Package
Program overview and application package for 2010 grant. [PDF, 1MB, posted 06/02/09]
VITA Grant Overview
Presentation on the 2010 VITA Grant by the IRS. [PDF, 390KB, posted 06/01/09]
Initial Program Announcement
Annoucement from IRS SPEC outlines contact information, changes in the application process from last year, the application process, and eligibility requirements. Provided by the Internal Revenue Service. [PDF, 15KB, posted 05/08/09]
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