Serving Immigrants. About the Center for Economic Progress Providing free tax preparation to...
-
Upload
pauline-gray -
Category
Documents
-
view
215 -
download
0
Transcript of Serving Immigrants. About the Center for Economic Progress Providing free tax preparation to...
Serving Immigrants
About the Center for Economic Progress
• Providing free tax preparation to low-income taxpayers for 11 years
• Served over 25,000 taxpayers during 2005
• The Center also runs a Low-Income Tax Clinic (LITC)
• Provides financial literacy and specialized tax training
Keep it simple
• Basic information is needed on issues like filing requirements, where to get forms
• Translators are needed in areas where we historically only served English-speaking clients. Number of immigrant taxpayers growing in areas like Minnesota and Colorado.
• Taxpayer education on W-4 and W-5 forms
Issues Surrounding Immigrant Taxpayers
• “Should I file a tax return?”
• Abuse by employers of advance Earned Income Credit
• Need to apply for ITINs for themselves and dependents
• VITA sites apprehensive about doing ITIN applications
• VITA volunteers uncomfortable with ITINs
Partnership with IRS
• Local IRS SPEC ( Stakeholders, Partnerships, Education and Communication)
• ITIN and informational events• Education (e.g. 1099s and quarterly
pymts)• HIRE (Hispanic IRS Employees)• Taxpayer Advocate Service• TAC Center• LITCs (IRS funded)
Other Strategies
• Become a Certifying Acceptance Agent
• Partnership with other community-based organizations
• Partnership with the Mexican Consulate
• Banks