REP. THOMPSON VISITS, PRAISES FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICE PROVIDED BYUNITED WAY OF THE BAY AREA COMMUNITY SERVICES AT THE CONTRA COSTA AFL-CIO LABOR COUNCIL
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today visited Contra Costa AFL-CIO Labor Council and the United Way of the Bay Area Community Service in Martinez 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 by the Contra Costa AFL-CIO Labor Council and the United Way of the Bay Area Community Service 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 Contra Costa AFL-CIO Labor Council and the United Way of the Bay Area Community Service who work hard to provide these invaluable services to taxpayers in our community.”
“The Contra Costa AFL-CIO Labor Council and the United Way of the Bay Area Community Service welcome Congressman Thompson to our VITA tax site. We’re proud to offer this vital service to all residents. This year our site is one of 20 in Contra Costa that will serve over 12,000. This site alone has saved over $45,000 for local families this year,” said Mary Harms, United Way of the Bay Area Community Services Director at the Labor Council.
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 to have a new 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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