The United Way of San Diego County, 211 San Diego, and the Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition have partnered together providing valuable information on tax credits and offering free tax preparation services to low- and moderate-income individuals and families in San Diego County. The EITC Coalition is anchored by a partnership among United Way of San Diego County, 211 San Diego, the IRS, and the County of San Diego. Its partner organizations and providers provide a clear pathway to tax assistance for the community and together, they ensure San Diego County families can prepare their taxes and claim federal and state tax credits they earned.
The Earned Income Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit designed to reduce the tax burden on families and keep them out of poverty. The EITC helps families and individuals that qualify reduce the taxes they owe or increase their refund so they can put more money toward rent, school tuition, utilities, groceries, and other important expenses. It is considered the largest and most powerful anti-poverty program in the nation, and research shows the EITC improves health and educational outcomes of its beneficiaries and their families at every stage of life. Combined with the federal Child Tax Credit, the state CalEITC, and the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), taxpayers can receive hundreds or even thousands of extra dollars back on their taxes.
In 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California State Legislature expanded the CalEITC and YCTC to all California tax filers, including undocumented Individual Taxpayer Identification Number filers who meet the other eligibility criteria.
In 2021, the UWSD, 211 San Diego, and the EITC Coalition returned a total of $28,034,865 back to individuals and families through state and federal tax returns, assisted 15,556 individuals who received free tax preparation, helped clients save more than $2.9 million in tax preparation fees, and completed 29,876 tax returns.
211 San Diego Chief of Staff Meg Storer has worked with 211 for 17 years, and said she is excited about the work that it does throughout the region, specifically its work in raising awareness and help individuals get connected to Earned Income Tax Credit.
“For us, we believe in helping individuals and families, build and sustain healthy lives, and we do that by connecting them to health, social, and community services,” she said.