January 27, 2003

Contact:
Carol Finis-Perez, RichmondWORKS
(510) 307-8049 or
Delphine Smith, (510) 412-0580

FREE TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE
AVAILABLE IN RICHMOND

Certified volunteers will help with
1040EZ and 1040A tax forms

Richmond. Workers and families who fall in the low-income bracket can get their 1040EZ or 1040A tax forms prepared free of charge by certified volunteers in Richmond.  The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) service is being made available through a partnership between the City of Richmond, local agencies and banks, the FDIC, and the IRS.

The purpose of the service is to encourage low income workers and families to file their tax returns and claim Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).  The EITC is a refund that eligible low income individuals or families can claim which gives them more money than they would receive through the normal tax formula.  According to IRS and FDIC officials, more than $3 million in EITC went unclaimed by Richmond residents in 2000.

The free tax preparation assistance service will be available on Saturdays only, beginning February 1, through April 12, 2003, at the Community Heritage Senior Apartments Community Rom, 1555 Third Street, Richmond, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The service will also be available at RichmondWORKS, 330 25^th Street, Richmond, on Saturdays only, beginning February 15 through April 12, 2003, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

No appointments are necessary.  Clients should bring appropriate tax forms and earnings documentation.  For more information, please call Carol Finis-Perez at RichmondWORKS, (510) 307-8049, or Delphine Smith at the Community Heritage Senior Apartments, (510) 412-0580.