United Way of California

United Ways of California Helps Californian Families Count Down to July 15 Tax Filing Deadline: ‘You May Qualify for Additional Credits; Ask Free Tax Experts’

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.

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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.

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Approaching the Last Weekend before Taxes are Due Wednesday, July 15: United Ways of California says ‘It’s Not Too Late to Do Your Taxes, Free, with Expert Guidance’

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.

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United Ways of California Helps Californians Count Down to July 15 Tax Filing Deadline: ‘Know the Facts; File for Free’

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.

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CalEITC Expanded to Include ITIN Tax Filers With Young Children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 23, 2020

Contact: Unai Montes-Irueste, Communications Director, United Ways of California, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 213 476 8742

United Ways of California Praise Governor Newsom and Legislative Leaders for Expanding Earned Income Tax Credit to Immigrant Workers with Young Children; Call for Urgent Full Inclusion
“Great Start, Right Direction, More to Do”

(Los Angeles, CA) – After years of advocacy, especially on behalf of low-income workers, United Ways of California applauds Governor Newsom and the California Legislature for extending the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) to working taxpayers whose households include filers who use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and have young children under 6 years of age. This is a good step, but there is more California needs to do to meet the urgent needs of low-income working families. The expansion agreed to by the Governor and Legislature will reach approximately 32,000 to 46,000 tax filers and their families, leaving out a vast majority of ITIN filers, including over 178,000 children. With income disparities growing throughout the state, California’s advocates have been pushing for an inclusive CalEITC for over five years. Now, with a looming recession, California needs this inclusive policy to protect the state’s nearly 600,000 individuals and their families, who are excluded from federal pandemic support, from falling deeper into poverty, and also to boost spending to help local economies recover.

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