A free tax preparation service for low and moderate
income families.

Through the Cuyahoga EITC Coalition members, low-income taxpayers will receive quality tax preparation, wealth building opportunities and other services in order to strengthen our neighborhoods’ economies.

EITC is a refundable tax credit available to working adults without children earning up to $14,120 through families with at least two children earning as much as $38,348. The credit can be as large as $4,536 and the average EITC credit for Cuyahoga County in 2002 was $1,763. In 2002, $184 million in EITC claims were added to our local economy.  It is estimated that between 15 and 20 percent of those eligible for this credit do not claim it. These are dollars that do not go to the hard working families that earned them and therefore not into the Cuyahoga County economy.

The Cuyahoga EITC Coalition promotes free and fair tax preparation services for middle and low-income filers. Many filers are subject to filing fees and refund anticipation loans (RALs) sold to them by private for-profit businesses.  These fees and loans are avoided by using the Coalition’s free tax sites throughout the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. The sites are free, quick, and an efficient alternative to paid preparers.

Finally, the Cuyahoga EITC Coalition encourages financial independence and savings for middle and low-income families. Wealth-building is an important step toward home ownership, saving for higher education, and day-to-day living.