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Public Employee Press
Union offers free tax prep service
DC 37 is offering free tax preparation services
with access to the Earned Income Tax Credit to qualified members. The EITC is
an additional amount of money that is paid to low income families in addition
to their tax refund. On Feb. 10 and 17, special tax prep sessions were
held for members who work in the Job Training Program at the NYC Parks Dept.
Its a great opportunity to have this. The staff was friendly
and I didnt have to wait. They attended to me very quickly, said JTP
participant Celines Rivera, who brought along her daughter Feb. 10 to the session
at the Chelsea Recreation Center on a chilly Saturday morning. All union
members not just JTPs are eligible for the free tax preparation
service if they have a total family income of under $20,000 and no children or
family income below $40,000 and one or more dependent children. Last
year DC 37 helped more than 3,000 union members get over $8.1 million in tax refunds
as well as savings on tax preparation. DC 37 in partnership with Food
Change is operating 11 tax preparation centers throughout the city. For assistance
finding a center, call 311 or visit www.
DC37.net for more information. When applying, members will need
certain information: - W-2s for all jobs worked during
2006
- The 1099-G form if you received unemployment insurance
during the year
- If you are filing your taxes with your spouse,
you must bring your spouse
- Social Security cards (or a copy
of last years tax return or individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers)
and birth dates for yourself and all family members you are claiming
- Bank
statements for any interest earned
- A sample check if you
want direct deposit of your refund.
For members who decide
to file electronically refunds are available within one week of filing. Its
a good public service theyre providing, said Steven Martin. DC
37 is a good union. Theyre doing their best to help their members. | |