Did you know California has a new state Earned Income Tax Credit? Combined with the federal EITC, hard-working families may be eligible for up to $6,200 in tax credits. Please help get the word out about these tax refund opportunities which all too often go unclaimed.

The United Way’s Earn It! Keep It! Save It! campaign helps eligible families receive the tax refunds they’ve earned, and First 5 Contra Costa is pleased to participate again in this year’s campaign through our efforts with the Family Economic Security Partnership. Thank you in advance for informing the families you work with about these important opportunities to boost their incomes:

• Families who earned less than $54,000 in 2015 may be eligible for the federal EITC and to have their taxes done for free by IRS-certified volunteers. You can find a complete list of free tax assistance sites in Contra Costa County here or by calling 211. Outreach materials in English and Spanish are also available at earnitkeepitsaveit.org.
• Families who earned less than $13,870 in 2015 may be eligible for California’s EITC and up to $2,300 in tax credits. Find eligibility information, social media graphics, and bilingual outreach materials here.

Helping families stay financially stable is critical and helping them claim credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit is essential to making that happen. Please share this information in newsletters, on your social media pages, and with your constituents. The EITC, along with the Child Tax Credit, lifts more children out of poverty than any other policy. Let’s make sure our hard-working families know about it.

Sean Casey is the Executive Director of First 5 Contra Costa.