By Megan SaylesAFRO Enterprise Writermsayles@afro.com
The Creating Belongings, Financial savings and Hope (CASH) Marketing campaign of Maryland celebrated nationwide Earned Revenue Tax Credit score (EITC) Day on Jan. 26 by saying the 2024 websites for the nonprofit’s free tax preparation providers.
Picture credit score: AFRO Picture / Megan Sayles
Maryland households who made lower than $64,000 in 2023 are eligible for the free service. Those that earned lower than $63,398 can qualify for the EITC, which places hundreds of {dollars} in refunds again into the pockets of residents.
In 2020, almost 27 % of Maryland taxpayers certified at no cost tax preparation providers and the EITC however didn’t apply, in line with the Workplace of the Comptroller. The CASH Marketing campaign of Maryland seeks to shut this hole and guarantee residents are conscious of those features.
“The Earned Revenue Tax Credit score and different tax credit work for households. We all know it lifts households out of poverty, and we all know that households know what to do with that cash,” stated Sara Johnson, co-founder and CEO of the CASH Marketing campaign of Maryland. “They pay their lease, they pay their payments, they purchase groceries and, hopefully, they’ll do one thing good for his or her households with a few of that more money too.”
In 2024, The CASH Marketing campaign of Maryland’s free tax preparation websites within the Baltimore space embrace the Central Enoch Pratt Free Library, Bon Secours Neighborhood Works, College of Maryland, Baltimore’s Neighborhood Engagement Heart, Heart for City Households, Loyola Scientific Heart, the Weinberg Y in Waverly, We Are CASA, Baltimore County Public Library’s Randallstown Department, College of Maryland Baltimore County and Dundalk Renaissance.
LaToyia Califf, a health coach on the Weinberg Y in Waverly, found the work of the CASH Marketing campaign of Maryland final yr. She took benefit of the free tax preparation providers and realized that she may declare the EITC and Youngster Tax Credit score in the course of the course of.
“I used to be very proud of my refund, and I used to be very grateful that it was free and very handy,” stated Califf. “With that cash, I used to be capable of get my new residence for my kids.”
Since its inception, the CASH Marketing campaign of Maryland has served greater than 266,000 households throughout the state of Maryland, producing $390 million in refunds and tax credit for taxpayers. Final yr in Baltimore Metropolis alone, the group labored with almost 8,000 households who acquired $11.6 million in refunds and tax credit.
Appointments at no cost tax preparation have to be scheduled prematurely, and a listing of requisite documentation will be discovered on the CASH Marketing campaign of Maryland’s web site. Tax returns have to be filed by April 15.
“The fact is there’s loads of people in our group with an amazing quantity of stress and nervousness about tax season. We’re right here to say in the event you qualify for this program, there’s completely no cause for you to not make the most of the free providers which are supplied by the CASH Marketing campaign,” stated Baltimore Metropolis Council President Nick J. Mosby.
He continued by urging eligible taxpayers to make sure they capitalize on the EITC, and different tax credit.
“There’s no cause to assist and belief the man within the Statue of Liberty uniform, spinning a greenback invoice, telling you he’ll do your taxes,” stated Mosby. “There isn’t a cause to keep away from the method as a result of it’s important that you simply do it and that you simply do it within the fingers of parents who really care. That’s why I imagine a lot within the CASH Marketing campaign.”
Megan Sayles is a Report For America corps member.
