LA Offers Free Tax Help For Working Families

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was at the Youth Policy Institute in Hollywood Thursday to promote a campaign to provide low to moderate income households with free tax preparation services.

"Working families deserve every opportunity to put money back in their pockets -- dollars they can invest in meaningful ways like getting quality childcare for their kids, making home improvements and getting more reliable transportation," Garcetti said. "These free tax prep services will help thousands of Angelenos better understand how to take advantage of tax credits that can help them get ahead."

Garcetti was joined by Jerome Horton of the California State Board of Equalization and Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin to promote this year's Free Tax Prep Los Angeles program, under which all 16 of the city's FamilySource Centers will be open throughout the tax season to assist families with filing their taxes.
Immigrant families filing their taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number can also receive help through the program.

The Free Tax Prep Los Angeles campaign is a public-private collaboration led by the City of Los Angeles Housing + Community Investment Department, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, Citi Community Development, Youth Policy Institute, Koreatown Youth and Community Center, and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

Garcetti's office said households with annual incomes of $54,000 or less may qualify for about $9,000 in cash back through the state and federal Earned Income Tax Credit.

"As city controller, my office works to help secure our city's financial future -- it is vital that Angelenos have the tools and knowledge to plan for and secure their own financial futures," Galperin said. "Helping hard- working families claim the state and federal Earned Income Tax Credit can lift Angelenos out of poverty and help power our economy. For families living paycheck-to-paycheck, these credits provide a great opportunity to get out of debt and start saving."

Bob Annibale, global director of Citi Community Development and Inclusive Finance, said, "Research has shown that more than 43 percent of Los Angeles households lack enough savings to live at the poverty line for three months if faced with an unexpected emergency leading to a loss of income, yet eligible workers leave nearly $580 million in unclaimed tax credits on the table each year. Earned Income Tax Credits can provide an essential cash infusion for those households living paycheck-to-paycheck. Free Tax Prep Los Angeles will help provide access to free, high quality tax preparation services and raise awareness of tax credits that can strengthen financial resilience for hard working Angelenos."

Last year, more than 100,000 L.A. County residents were served through the campaign, Garcetti's office said.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock