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REP. THOMPSON VISITS, PRAISES FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICE AT UPVALLEY FAMILY CENTER

April 4, 2016

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today visited UpValley Family Center in St. Helena and met with staff and clients of the center’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

The VITA program offers assistance from volunteers certified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to individuals who generally earn $54,000 a year or less, or who have disabilities or limited English language abilities, to prepare their income tax returns. VITA programs also help taxpayers claim refundable tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC). The VITA program is jointly sponsored by the IRS and the American Bar Association and provides grants to non-profit organizations in the community to make these free tax preparation clinics available.

“The free tax preparation services offered at the UpValley Family Center provide a truly vital service to our communities,” said Thompson. “Every taxpayer should receive the assistance he or she needs to determine what tax benefits they are legally entitled to receive.Far too many hardworking low- to moderate-income workers don’t know they can claim the refundable Earned Income Tax Credit and the refundable Child Tax Credit, which can deliver larger tax refund checks. Thank you to all the IRS-certified volunteers and staff at the UpValley Family Center who work hard to provide these invaluable services to taxpayers in our community.”

“It was great to have Congressman Mike Thompson at UpValley Family Centers to learn about our services and VITA,” said Jenny Ocon, Executive Director of UpValley Family Centers. “It’s important that local residents have access to quality tax preparation services, in English and Spanish. Last year our program generated at total of $779,882 in tax refunds for the 483 households we served.”

Rep. Thompson, a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means which has jurisdiction over all tax policy, also encouraged taxpayers to take advantage of the new myRA program. Launched in November by President Obama and the Department of the Treasury, the myRA is a new simple, safe, no-fee retirement account for those looking for a way to get started saving for retirement. The myRA program provides Americans who don’t have access to a retirement savings plan through work to have a new option of putting some of their tax refund into a myRA account.

“Every hardworking American should have access to a reliable option to save for retirement,” said Thompson. “The myRA program provides Americans who don’t have access to a retirement savings plan through work the option of putting some of their tax refund into a myRA account, ensuring they have access to a long-term, stable, safe account where they can build up their savings.”

Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.

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