United Way of California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Contact:

Peter Manzo (323) 309-8522

Anna Hasselblad (916) 317-4997                                                     

Golden State Stimulus, Eviction Protections, and Rent Relief Urgency Budget Proposal Announced by Governor Newsom with Legislative and United Way Leaders

The stimulus will reach low-income Californians, including undocumented households that file taxes with Individual Taxpayer Identification Number; local leaders note urgency and readiness to connect families to relief

(Los Angeles, CA) — Statement from United Ways of California and Local United Way Leaders:

“Today marks a critical moment in California’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic with Governor Newsom’s Budget Proposal to provide a much needed $600 state stimulus check to low-income residents via the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) structure. This combined with extending eviction protections and providing rent relief funds comes at the right time as so many households struggle to stay afloat financially,” said Peter Manzo, President and CEO of United Ways of California, (UWCA). “Local United Ways throughout California are on the frontlines of connecting communities to services and assistance, raising and disbursing millions of dollars in 2020 alone to help tens of thousands of families grappling with the devastating impacts of COVID-19. 2021 will require a similar commitment to getting aid where it is needed most, and we are ready to partner closely with the Legislature and the Newsom Administration to see this budget proposal through with urgency.”

“The Inland Region is home to more than 5 million people and is diverse, multicultural, and beautiful; it has also been hit hard by the pandemic and housing crisis,” said Lisa Wright, President of Inland SoCal United Way. “We are proud to have responded in a significant way to alleviate suffering in our region with rental assistance, cash aid, small business grants, and crisis assistance through 211 and HelpLine. We offer sincere thanks and gratitude to Governor Newsom and our legislative leadership for stepping up to assist Californians in need through the Golden State Stimulus Package. We are proud to continue to work side by side with local, regional, county, and state leadership to serve our Inland Region to Unite people, ideas, and resources to improve lives every day.”

“These are unprecedented times and financial relief is needed for so many low-income families in our Orange County community. Our Pandemic Relief Fund has already helped 6,078 households with emergency relief. We’re proud to support the Golden State Stimulus efforts to ensure families can continue to pay their rent and meet their basic needs,” said Susan B. Parks, president and CEO, Orange County United Way. 

“Our United Way applauds the proposed Garden State Stimulus. We know well how such rapid relief can make a difference having provided over 1,100 families with direct payments of $500 through our relief funds. So much more is needed and this stimulus will certainly ease the burden for so many,” said Stephanie McLemore Bray, President and CEO of United Way of the California Capitol Region. 

“United Way of Kern County is grateful for the Governor's proposed Golden State Stimulus. We thank Governor Newson and the legislators for including our low-income individuals and families who have been excluded from the federal stimulus, especially our central valley undocumented households who file taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), and even parents with U.S. citizen children. United Way of Kern County has been doing a lot of work helping struggling families via VITA services, EITC/ Cal EITC outreach, assisting with relief funds and distributing meals during COVID-19, said Mari Perez-Dowling, President & CEO of United Way of Kern County. “It's very exciting to know that the work United Way has done in our communities has a positive impact at this level. Our working low-income families need and deserve to be included in these types of stimulus support regardless of whether they file with a Social Security Number or ITIN." 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 15, 2020

Contact: Unai Montes, (213) 476-8742, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Press READ MORE for Spanish version

United Way offers free tax filing services, guidance and tax credit advice to Californians already struggling with the pandemic and increasing financial insecurity

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 15, 2020) ‒ This past week United Ways of California has been running a Tax Countdown Informational Series in the media to inform low to middle-income hardworking Californians about critical tax information, key deadlines and free solutions at United Way’s MyFreeTaxes.org site. Today (July 15) is the deadline to file a tax return and pay federal taxes. If filers don’t owe taxes above what has been withheld from their paychecks already, they receive an automatic additional extension to file federal and state taxes until October 15. If filers think they owe taxes but aren’t ready to file a return, they must request an extension, or they may be hit with penalties and interest due on the amount owed. In either case, it is still a good idea to file and pay sooner than later. 

Several Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites, partners, subgrantees, and MyFreeTaxes.org will continue to operate until October 15, 2020. The website helps people get connected to services that provide free, virtual assistance to those who still need to do their taxes. Any immediate tax questions can be answered by calling 1-866-698-9435, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, PST. Additionally, you can text TAXES to 211-211 to get guidance.

“Filing taxes is nobody’s favorite thing, and it’s an especially daunting task during the complexities of COVID-19,” says Peter Manzo, President and CEO of United Ways of California. “We’re trying to break down the information into actionable items so individuals and families don’t lose money through unnecessary interest payments and may even find additional money through tax credits,” Manzo added.

FOR RELEASE July 14, 2020

Contact: Unai Montes, (213) 476-8742, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For Spanish Version, Click READ More

United Way encourages tax filers with children under 6 to see if they qualify for California’s $1000 Young Child Tax Credit

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 14, 2020) ‒  California United Ways want to inform low to middle-income hardworking families that it is still not too late to file 2019 taxes for the impending July 15* federal deadline and they may even be able to receive additional money with state credits like the Young Child Tax Credit. This tax credit enables those who qualify for another tax credit, California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), and have a child under the age of 6 as of the end of the tax year to receive an additional $1,000 credit. Families can claim this credit by filing or amending a state income tax return. United Way’s MyFreeTaxes.org hotline and texting options provide several ways to aid Californians with their taxes in a free, quick, and trustworthy way. Any immediate questions pertaining to tax filing can be answered by calling 1-866-698-9435, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., PST, Monday through Friday. Additional tax guidance can be found by texting Taxes to 211-211.

Research shows that families who receive additional tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, have, who do better in school, and are more likely to attend college, and earn more as adults.

“The Young Children’s Tax Credit can make a crucial difference for lower-income and vulnerable families,” said Peter Manzo, President and CEO of United Ways of California. “Especially during this difficult-to-navigate pandemic, we want to spread the word so that as many families as possible claim the credits they deserve.

Many families also may not realize they can file retroactively for up to three years of refundable credits that they did not claim in prior years,” Manzo added. The extension for filing this year applies retroactively, so you can get the help you need to file your returns for 2019, 2018, 2017, and even 2016.

To schedule a virtual visit to complete taxes with the help of a volunteer tax preparer, click here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 13, 2020

Contact: Unai Montes, (213) 476-8742, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Spanish Version is available when clicking READ MORE.

United Way “Tax Preparation Checklist” helps tax filers better prepare and file their taxes virtually with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 13, 2020) ‒ California United Ways and partner Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs across the state are making their services available virtually, for hard-working, low to middle-income California workers who have just a few remaining days to file their taxes before the extended deadline of July 15, 2020.* United Way’s MyFreeTaxes.org, a hotline, and texting options provide several ways to aid Californians with their taxes in a free, quick, and trustworthy way. Any immediate questions pertaining to tax filing can be answered by calling 866-698-9435, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST. Additional guidance can be found by texting TAXES to 211-211.

“With COVID-19, in-person tax appointments might be unsettling for high-risk individuals, or visits may have been postponed while trying to wait out the climbing number of positive cases,” said Peter Manzo, President and CEO of United Ways of California. “United Ways wants Californians to know the facts, to get informed and to explore all their options for a free, safe, and virtual option, that in many cases can help you find additional sources of income through tax credits,” Manzo added.

To schedule a virtual visit, click here. Proceed through the dialogue box and enter in the required information to set up your virtual vita appointment.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 10, 2020

Contact: Unai Montes, (213) 476-8742, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Please go to READ MORE for the Spanish version.

United Way offers free tax filing services as Americans struggle with financial insecurity in the midst of the pandemic

July 10, 2020 (Los Angeles, CA) -- During these especially financially pressing times, United Ways of California is providing a free way to make a stressful task much less difficult. United Ways of California continues to build resiliency and financial security for vulnerable populations and hard-working, lower-income Californians by establishing and amplifying critical resources. Visit MyFreeTaxes.org to get help with tax filings which are due next week, postmarked on or before Wednesday, July 15, to get connected to services that provide free, virtual assistance to those who still need to do their taxes. Additionally, you can text TAXES to 211-211 to get guidance.

While July 15 is the deadline to file a tax return and pay federal taxes, if you don’t request an extension and/or pay by July 15, you may be hit with penalties and interest due on the amount you owe. It is still a good idea to file and pay sooner than later. You can still apply for an additional extension to file federal taxes until October 15 and for California state taxes you have an automatic extension to file the return. If you are getting a refund, the penalty to file is not assessed and you can file and claim a refund for up to three years for the federal and four years for the state from the due date. Several VITA sites, partners, subgrantees, MyFreeTaxes.org will continue to operate until October 15, 2020.