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Online Tax Credit Calculator Helps Individuals and Families Determine EITC Eligibility
Sacramento (January 27, 2012) –As part of National EITC Awareness Day, We Connect is encouraging Californians to try a newly updated online calculator that can help quickly and easily determine if they qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) — a federal tax credit that can boost an individual’s or family’s federal refund by as much as $5,751. The WEb Connector EZ asks four questions and within minutes lets taxpayers know whether they may be eligible for the EITC. When taxpayers finish using the WEb Connector EZ, they can visit WE Connect’s Resource Map and locate free tax assistance programs available from the IRS and community agencies.
According to the IRS, one out of five taxpayers who are eligible for the EITC do not claim it on their tax returns, which means nearly 21 percent of qualified workers in the United States are missing out on thousands of dollars in refunds each year. EITC, enacted by Congress in 1975, is one of the nation's largest anti-poverty programs, annually lifting 6.6 million people out of poverty.
For the creation of the WEb Connector EZ, WE Connect partnered with Intuit Inc. “The online calculator is very accessible and easy to use at any computer, and is now available on most smart phones,” said Brad Smith, president and CEO of Intuit. "Intuit is committed to improving people's financial lives during this recovering economy by showing taxpayers how to maximize their refunds.”
The WEb Connector EZ is just one of the many money-saving programs and services available through WE Connect. Founded in 2005 by former California First Lady Maria Shriver and now run by The California Endowment, WE Connect continues to reach families with important resources, including affordable health coverage options.
“The California Endowment views health in a holistic manner. Access to healthy choices and financial resources such as the EITC are key to strengthening our communities. Our partnership with Intuit is an example of how innovative and creative partnerships can help us empower those most in need,” said Robert K. Ross, M.D., president and CEO of The California Endowment.
In the coming year, WE Connect will work with Lieutenant Governor Newsom and partner organizations, including The California Endowment, the Intuit Financial Freedom Foundation, La Opinión, and thousands of others across the state to explore creative ways to continue serving the needs of low-income California families.
About WE ConnectWE Connect, a program founded in 2005 by former First Lady of California Maria Shriver and now run by The California Endowment, empowers families in underserved communities to lead healthier and more financially secure lives by connecting them to resources such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, California’s Healthy Families Program and CalFresh. This nationwide campaign connects those eligible with the information and tools they need to access these valuable resources. The program has successfully resulted in helping millions of Californians through its community events, web-based tools, public-private partnerships, and publications. Through a partnership with La Opinion, the nation’s largest Spanish-speaking newspaper, WE Connect has developed four editions of a 24-page, full color, bilingual supplement that has been distributed to over 20 million Californians in need. For more information about the WE Connect program, please visit www.weconnect.net.
About The California EndowmentThe California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation, was established in 1996 to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. Headquartered in downtown Los Angeles, The Endowment has regional offices in San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno and San Diego, with program staff working throughout the state. From 2010-2020, The Endowment will focus the majority of its resources on its 10-year strategic plan Building Healthy Communities. For more information, visit The Endowment’s Web site at www.calendow.org.
About the Intuit Financial Freedom Foundation
The Intuit Financial Freedom Foundation directs programs that help to empower disadvantaged, lower-income individuals, small businesses, and the nonprofit organizations that serve them. By donating Intuit's tax preparation, financial management and accounting software and online services, the Foundation promotes financial literacy and independence, helping people and organizations master their finances and bridge the digital divide. The Intuit Tax Freedom Project is a philanthropic initiative of the Intuit Financial Freedom Foundation. Through the Intuit Tax Freedom Project, Intuit donates use of TurboTax® Freedom Edition to individuals and families who meet eligibility criteria announced at the beginning of tax season. More than 22 million returns have been donated since this program began in 1998. www.intuitempowers.com
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