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(L-R) Anne Vinick, WFTSC Chair and Community Life Senior Manager at Community Builders/Plumley Village; City Councilor Sarai Rivera; WCAC Executive Director Jill Dagilis; City Manager Ed Augustus; Gladys Rodriguez-Parker of Congressman Jim McGovern; and United Way of Central Massachusetts CEO Tim Garvin.
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Worcester, Massachusetts - In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the statewide Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day, the Worcester Free Tax Service Coalition (WFTSC) kicked off its 12th year today with a brief program at the Woo Church, 875 Main Street, Worcester. F
ormerly the Earned Income Tax Coalition, WRTSC 's name change reflects a concerted effort to promote the
free
tax preparation service available to income eligible households.
"The Worcester Free Tax Coalition is excited to kick off our 12th season of free tax preparation for eligible families. Each year, Coalition members and our IRS-certified volunteers look forward to helping families save hundreds of dollars in tax preparation services and receive every tax credit for which they are eligible. We provide a professional, efficient and free service, and I encourage everyone in households earning less than $54,000 in 2015 to make an appointment at one of our four Worcester locations," said Anne Vinick, WFTSC Chair and Community Life Senior Manager at Community Builders/Plumley Village.
WCAC Executive Director Jill Dagilis agreed, saying, "WCAC is pleased to be a host site for this important program. We encourage area families and individuals to take advantage of these free services to ensure they are maximizing their returns. Our sincere thanks to our many corporate and community partners, as well as the countless volunteers who make this program happen. They are in fact helping others make critical steps towards self-sufficiency."
"The Worcester Free Tax Service Coalition provides a great service to our low income workers and families, strengthening Worcester neighborhoods and giving our residents the possibility to live above the poverty line. We look forward to another year of collaboration to further improve the lives of our residents through these programs," said City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr.
"I have heard it said that EITC is the greatest anti-poverty program for working families-and I agree! Hard working families can receive a boost to their annual income with this credit. This is wonderful as it helps our economy, our families, and our community! We at United Way of Central Massachusetts are thrilled to support the work of the Worcester Free Tax Service Coalition and the EITC efforts," agreed Timothy J. Garvin, CEO of United Way of Central Massachusetts.
For 2016 the free tax preparation services will be available at four locations within the City of Worcester: WCAC, 484 Main Street (Denholm Building);
The Community Builders, Inc. at Plumley Village, 16 Laurel Street; Main South CDC, 875 Main Street; and at Worcester State University, 486 Chandler Street.
Worcester Free Tax Service Coalition utilizes IRS-certified volunteers from the community, local business and area colleges and universities to prepare the tax returns.
Qualifying households with earned income less than $54,000 in 2015 are eligible for the free service. Close to 1,800 tax returns were successfully e-field by the coalition in tax year 2014, with more than $2.9 million in refunds returned to the local tax community.
Partners in the Worcester Free Tax Service Coalition include AllCom Credit Union, Assumption College, City of Worcester's Office of Economic and Neighborhood Development, Community Builders, Main South CDC, Internal Revenue Service, Quinsigamond Community College, United Way of Central Massachusetts, UNUM, WCCA TV-13, Worcester Community Action Council and Worcester State University.
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