| CCDO and the IRS: Additional Partnering Opportunities
CCDO is expanding its working relationship with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by distributing information to all Weed and Seed sites about additional partnering opportunities. Even if your site does not have its own Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Center, you can help residents access important resources and information that can increase their tax refunds and monthly incomes, sometimes dramatically.
Here are some ideas:
- Include local tax coalitions on your Steering Committee or participate as a member of your local tax coalition.
- Develop fliers, brochures, posters, bus cards, billboards, grocery bag art, tray liners, and so forth that explain who is eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), list locations of tax assistance sites, publicize the dates of financial literacy workshops, and so on.
- Conduct meetings or outreach events with large companies to encourage them to promote EITC among employees who earn lower wages.
- Set up and announce an EITC hotline that residents may call to get basic eligibility information. Design the system so that callers can find the VITA Centers nearest them by keying in a ZIP Code.
- Set up an asset-building program (e.g., custodial accounts using Individual Development Accounts). For example, your program could require that participants save at least $20 per month in their accounts and attend financial literacy workshops to reach a defined goal. Upon completion of the program, participants would receive the money they saved, as well as the matching funds.
- Obtain donated training space such as school computer labs, and use them to teach volunteers how to prepare and file electronic tax returns.
- Use established or obtain donated space in faith-based or neighborhood centers to display self-help information on tax issues.
- Produce community newsletters or public service announcements on tax coalition activities.
- Recruit or provide volunteers for training classes prior to tax season.
- Donate your organization's mailing list for an educational mailing.
- Develop a Web site to promote local coalition activities and opportunities.
- Plan media events to kick off tax-related seasonal activities.
- Donate equipment, supplies, and so forth to tax coalition efforts.
- Seek out bilingual volunteers for tax assistance sites.
Interested?
The possibilities for partnering are expanding and the power of tax coalitions is growing nationwide. To discuss partnering opportunities, e-mail partner@irs.gov and let the IRS know how they can help you get started. Also, please peruse the IRS Partner Products and Volunteer Resource Center for products, Web sites, and other materials that may help your local partnership work with the IRS.
For more information, contact:
Sonia Klukas, CCDO Partnership Officer
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