Many miss out on available refunds. A new pilot program includes free tax assistance for 500 union members.

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

Board of Education Employees Local 372 has joined in a large-scale drive to help union members and thousands of low-income working New Yorkers make use of federal and state tax credits.

The program has the potential to bring thousands of dollars a year to low-earning families. Families with children are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit if they earn up to $32,121. They can get up to $5,010 in federal and state EICTs, and even people who do not owe taxes can receive a refund check. Those earning $8,000 to $17,000 will receive the largest payments.

Through the new pilot project, 500 Local 372 members will be eligible to have their taxes done at no cost by union members who have volunteered for special training in the EITC provisions of the tax law.

"We're proud to offer this service to our members," said Local 372 President Veronica Montgomery-Costa as the training began on Jan. 19. "I want to commend the members who have taken advantage of this training, which will benefit themselves and their coworkers."

Ms. Montgomery-Costa said she hopes that "DC 37 will expand this unionwide."

Recent economic developments have made the EITC more important than ever. Before the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the national economy was experiencing a slowdown, and unemployment was on the rise. After Sept. 11, as many as 100,000 jobs were lost in New York City, with workers in food service, maintenance and retail sales hit hardest.

The EITC, which is currently underutilized, could help struggling families and bring hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy. Nationwide, one eligible household in every four does not claim credits they are entitled to.

According to the Community Food Resource Center, over 250,000 New Yorkers who are eligible but do not get the EITC, and only 5 percent of low-income non-citizen Hispanics have ever received the tax credits.

To help eligible families get access to the tax credits, the campaign has set up seven free tax filing assistance centers. Local 372 members who have attended the two-day training session will provide free tax assistance for members at the local's temporary headquarters, located at 130 5th Avenue (18th St.) on the second floor.

Call now for an appointment
The first 500 available slots will be filled quickly, so members are advised to call as soon as possible to take advantage of this opportunity. To schedule an appointment, please contact Program Coordinator Lecia Vega-Scott at (917) 305-5201.