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Focus:
This was the first of a two-part conference call series on the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The United States Federal EITC is a refundable tax credit that reduces or eliminates the taxes that low-income working people pay, and also frequently operates as a wage subsidy for low-income workers. In 2006, more than $22 million workers claimed over $41 billion in EITC, but it has been estimated that up to 25 percent of those eligible for the credit do not claim it. Many of those, up to seven million families, do not claim the EITC due to a lack of awareness of the complexity of eligibility requirements and tax forms. Today, the EITC is one of the largest anti-poverty tools in the United States, and enjoys broad bipartisan support.
On this call, September 19th, listeners got a general overview about EITC and how the EITC tool can affect the assets of low-income families. Listeners also learned about resources available to those grantee agencies interested in engaging in a local/regional EITC asset building campaign.
The second call in the series, which was presented on September 26th, offered listeners information on collaborating with agencies that have successfully coupled programs that promote asset building initiatives. For more information about this part of the call please call the AFI Resource Center at (202) 401-4626 or send an email to info@idaresources.org.
All attendees had the opportunity to ask questions of, and to discuss important EITC issues with our resident experts.
The call-in number is: 1-888-390-4470; Passcode: AFI.
