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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 01232007 - PR.1 TO: ' BOARD OF SUPERVISORS -= = ,. ontra FROM: Joseph P. Valentine, Director o `I, ;;;;,f _ =lc� Costa Employment and Human Services Department ~'� County �o�K��`A DATE: January 23, 2007 SUBJECT: ADOPT Resolution No. 2007/4, Proclaiming February 1, 2007, as National EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) Day SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: ADOPT Resolution No. 2007/4, proclaiming February 1, 2007, as National EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) Day in Contra Costa County, as recommended by the Employment and Human Services Department, Workforces Services Bureau. FISCAL IMPACT: None BACKGROUND: National Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Day is an event orgy zed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and its stakeholders to educate the phi Ic a`bbout EITC and CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: I�YES SIGNATURE: llwrtl G 14� RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE 2/APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S). ACTION OF B AR ON 1d q i APPROVE AS RECOMMENDED OT ftR J VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE V UNANIMOUS (ABSENTV71-9� ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD AYES: NOES: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ABSENT: ABSTAIN: 2 ATTESTED 3 �� HN CULLE , LERK C5F THE BOARD OF \,�PERVISORGa,AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Contact Person: CC: WENDYTHERRIAN EHSD CONTRACTS UNIT-EM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AUDITOR-CONTROLLER CONTRACTOR BY: ,DEPUTY SUBJECT: ADOPT Resolution No. 2007/4, Proclaiming February 1, 2007, as National EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) Day requirements to claim the credit. It is a day set aside for news conferences or news releases to raise the awareness of working families of Earned Income Tax Credit, Free Tax Preparation Services, One-Time Telephone Tax Refund, and Split Refund Availability. Created in 1975, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps offset Social Security taxes and provides an incentive for working. It is the federal government's largest benefit program for working families. The EITC is for working people who earn low or moderate incomes. The audience includes people with limited English skills, rural residents, Native Americans, people with disabilities, and nontraditional families, such as a grandparent raising a grandchild. More than 60 percent of all tax returns claiming EITC are filed during the month of February. An estimated 20 percent more people may qualify for EITC but may not be aware of the program. There are more than 12,000 free tax preparation sites nationwide. Approximately 4,500 sites were Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites that provide free services to people who make $39,000 a year or less. Approximately 8,000 sites were Tax Counseling for the Elderly locations operated by AARP and free for low-income people who are age 60 or older. • In 2002, $75 million in federal tax credits went unclaimed by the Bay Area's working poor simply because they were unaware of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. Of this amount, the IRS estimates that Contra Costa County had $15 million in unclaimed EITC. The cities with the highest unclaimed EITC dollars were as follows: Richmond ($2.7 million); Pittsburg ($2.3 million); Concord ($2.0 million); San Pablo ($1.6 million); Antioch ($1.6 million); Martinez ($546,000); and Pleasant Hill ($291,000). • In 2006, Contra Costa County had 12 VITA sites; 187 volunteers; 1,987 returns prepared; $1.07 million in total EITC dollars claimed; and $2.5 million in total refunds. • 2006 campaign results in Contra Costa County were as follows: o East County — 567 returns prepared; $515,687 EITC dollars claimed; and $1.03 million in total refunds o Central County-382 returns prepared; $233,521 EITC dollars claimed; and $475,000 in total refunds o West County— 668 returns prepared; $323,219 EITC dollars claimed; and $837,000 in total refunds In 2007, there will be a one-time refund of$30 to $60 of the federal telephone excise tax. Even if a person is not required to file a tax return, they can still request a refund through Form 1040EZ-T. Also In 2007, taxpayers for the first time can split their refund into two or three banking or investment accounts by filing a new Form 8888. PR , l C, 12. IN THE MATTER OF DECLARING RESOLUTION NO. 2007/4 FEBRUARY 1, 2007 AS NATIONAL EITC (EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT) DAY IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Whereas, The Earned Income '.l'ax Credit (EITC), created in 1975, helps offset Social Security taxes and provides an incentive for work; and Whereas, The uTir is for working people who earn low or moderate incomes, including people with limited English skills, rural residents, Native Americans, people with disabilities, and riontradltlonal families, such as a grandparent raising a grandchild; and Whereas, National. FITC. Day:is an event organized by the Internal Revenue..Service and its stakeholders to educate the public about.RITC .requirements to claim.the credit; and Whereas, It is a day set aside to raise the awareness of working families and individuals of the Earned Income Tax Credit, Free Tax Preparation Services,..One-'Time 'Telephone 'fax Refund, and Split Refuiid Ava.tlabtlity, alld Whereas, More than 60 percent of all tax returns.claiming EITC a>:e f letir auiing the month of February, ... atld ail estimated 20 percent more.peoljle lnay qualify fo . ITC.,but rr ay not be aware of it, and Whereas, There are more,:-than 121000 free tat preparation sites natio-' 'de`o'f which approximately 4,500 sites are.Volunteer lncome 'l'ax Assistance sites that provide.free sciyices to-:,people who make ...:. $39,000 a year.or less; and Whereas, .In 2007, there will be a one-ti)ne refund of$30 to $60 of the.;federal.telephone excise tax; and Whereas, Also if! �'007; taxpayers„fcr„the fv-st tine can' split their�rcfand;into tw or three banking or investment accounts byfiling F o:rm 8888; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, the Contra Costa,County.Boa.rd of Supervisors, in an effort to raise public awareness, does hereby proclaim February 1, 2007 as National FITC (17,,arned income Tax Credit):Dav iti Contra Costa County: . 1VIARI'•N. PIEPHO Cliair District III Supervise OJOHN GIOIA GAYLE B. UILKEMA District 1 Supervisor - --— Disttict II Supervisor SUSAN A. BONILLA FEDERAL D. GLOVER District IV Supervisor District V Supervisor 0 * — # I hereby certify that this is a tnic and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date .J ' ;"•� :\'I'l'P.S'1'1',D: January 23,121117 as�, G." I(.)1 IN CULL EN, Clerk of the Board of Supcn'isors and Counts Administrator � - G ,Deputy sra co-i