Direct-care workers in Michigan could keep up to $5,306 at tax time through the state and federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
To encourage workers to take advantage of the credits, PHI Michigan has launched a campaign called “Earn, Keep, Save MORE.”
“Paycheck stuffers, posters, and brochures have gone out to 14 homecare, nursing home, and assisted living employers in seven counties across the state,” says PHI Michigan Senior Workforce Advocate Tameshia Bridges. “The materials will reach just over 2,200 workers.”
In addition to the print materials, an Earn, Keep, Save MORE website is available where users can download the materials mentioned above and access direct links to related resources.
The campaign also alerts direct-care workers to free tax filing and preparation services which can help them realize additional savings.
“Employers who are participating in this campaign see it as good way to help strengthen their relationship with staff,” says Bridges. “And in this economy, the extra savings at tax time could certainly help a lot of people.”
Bridges has already begun to hear from workers seeking more information. If you have questions? Contact her at tbridges@phinational.org or 517.372.8310.
NOTE: Although this campaign focuses on Michigan, the federal EITC is applicable to workers from any state.
Can I please get information to assist the Direct Care Workers of Georgia.
Jennifer, you can get a toolkit from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. Go to this link:
http://www.cbpp.org/eic2009/
If you are worker or employer outside of Michigan and would like information on EITC and free tax preparation services in your community you can try the following:
- If your area has a United Way sponsored 2-1-1 service, you can contact that them. Just dial 2-1-1 (like you would 9-1-1) and ask for information on where you can get your income taxes done for free in your community.
- VITA sites are sponsored by local coalitions in several states across the country. All VITA sites are staffed by IRS trained volunteers; their services are free. A simple Google search of VITA and your state (i.e. Georgia VITA sites), should pull up information on services available in your community. Be careful to get the list of this year’s sites.
- Finally, if there aren’t VITA sites in your community, I-CAN e-file is a free on-line tax preparation service that everyone can use no matter where you live. Just go to http://www.icanefile.org. I-CAN e-file will allow you to complete your federal taxes no matter where you live. If you live in California, Michigan, Montana, New York, or Pennsylvania, you can also use I-CAN e-file to complete your state taxes as well.
Thanks PHI for putting such valuable information together in one convenient location! As an agency that employs over 350 direct support professionals, we were able to easily pass a lot of valuable information on to our staff and help them get back the money they so richly deserve.
Jules Isenberg-Wedel, HR Manager
Residential Opportunities, Inc.
Kalamazoo, MI