Millions Skimmed
In 2001, low-income taxpayers filing for the Earned Income Tax Credit paid commercial tax preparers at least $633 million to complete their tax forms.
This article, which originally appeared in the spring 2002 issue of AdvoCasey, tells how a nonprofit in Tulsa, Okla., is helping working poor families avoid expensive tax preparers, maximize refunds and save for the future.
The Foundation produced AdvoCasey as a seasonal publication with themed issues that spotlight programs and policies making measurable differences in the lives of kids and families.
A free, full-service tax preparation program in Tulsa has assisted more than 12,000 low-income workers annually for the last two years. But the best part? The program has helped these taxpayers collect $27 million in federal and state tax refunds while avoiding roughly $1 million in preparer fees.