Mayor Nutter announces the results of free income tax filings: $106 million dollars in refuns to working families over the past six years

PHILADELPHIA, May 2, 2008 - Mayor Nutter joined 200 community volunteers to celebrate the results of The Campaign for Working Families’ successful tax season. Life-size human lottery balls helped the Mayor introduce the results.

Over the past 6 years, the Campaign has prepared and e-filed 68,400 tax returns and brought $106 million in state and federal refunds to working families throughout Philadelphia. And saved these families an additional $17 million in interest, fees and charges for tax preparation and check cashing, and loans.

This year, the sites were staffed by 374 IRS-certified volunteers. Philadelphia families and individuals earning less than $40,000 per year were eligible for the Campaign’s services. Jean Hunt, executive director, The Campaign for Working Families, shared these results,
for tax year 2008:

• Completed 13,400 tax returns

• $20 million in state and federal tax refunds

• At least $300,000 in stimulus payments

• 18 tax sites in every part of Philadelphia

The Campaign for Working Families operates 18 free tax sites throughout Philadelphia (prepare and e-file federal and state income tax returns), and connects individuals to the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), PA Tax Forgiveness, other tax credits, public benefits, and asset-building resources. www.phillyfreetaxes.org.

Managed by the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition (GPUAC), The Campaign for Working Families partners are: Ceiba, City of Philadelphia (Free Library and Mayor's Office of Consumer Affairs), Community Legal Services, Consumer Credit Counseling Services of the Delaware Valley, District 1199c, Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, PathWays PA, Public Citizens for Children and Youth, Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, Philadelphia County Assistance Office, The Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation, Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board, The Reinvestment Fund, Transitional Work Corporation, and United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

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