The 2008 Earned Income Tax Credit Outreach Kit

Welcome to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’
National Tax Credit Outreach Campaign Website!

Economic Stimulus Payments (ESPs) – Outreach Needed Now!

Now that the traditional tax filing season has ended, it is time to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of community Outreach Campaigns and free tax filing programs. As IRS data will soon show, millions of families and individuals will receive the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit this year — and many will owe their income boost to the success of state and local initiatives. This year, however, there is an important reason to keep outreach going: As a result of legislation recently passed by Congress, some 20 million low-income seniors, veterans and people with disabilities are eligible for an Economic Stimulus Payment (ESP) worth $300 ($600 for married couples) and must file an IRS Form 1040A to get it. But, since most are not otherwise required to file, they are at risk of missing out.

Click here for ESP Background, Outreach Materials and Activity Ideas

The Tax Credit Outreach Kit for 2008 is now available for order at eickit@cbpp.org. The updated outreach tools, such as the poster and flyer for 2008, are now posted below. The 2008 Kit has been streamlined and our plan is to post additional materials to this website as they are finalized. In the meantime, we are keeping the 2007 Kit available to you for any additional materials you may need.

About the Campaign

For nearly 20 years, the Campaign, which includes community organizations, employers, social service programs and government agencies, has promoted the Earned Income Credit (EIC), the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and free tax filing assistance for low- and moderate-income workers. Each year millions of eligible workers risk missing out on these important federal tax benefits because they do not know they qualify, do not know how to claim the credits or do not know where to find free tax filing assistance. Your outreach efforts can ensure that eligible workers can receive the tax credits they’ve earned.

This website will provide the information you need to develop a vibrant Tax Credit Outreach Campaign. As we continue the process of redesigning this website, if you have difficulty finding any information, please contact us at eickit@cbpp.org or 202-408-1080 so that we can assist you.

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Outreach Strategies You don't have to be a tax expert to help working families learn about and claim the Earned Income Credit and the Child Tax Credit! Community organizations, social services providers, government agencies, faith-based groups, schools, labor unions, employers, advocacy groups and others all can play a vital role in bringing these tax benefits within reach of working families and individuals.	Running a Campaign? What You Need to Know In this booklet, you will find what you need to know to develop an effective Outreach Campaign. You’ll get basic facts about the credits and free tax filing assistance. You’ll also explore the key elements of a successful campaign and find contact information for IRS staff in your area who can provide worthwhile assistance.
Outreach Tools Posters, flyers, envelope stuffers in English and Spanish Flyers in 19 languages, including: Arabic, Amharic, Bosnian, Cambodian, Chinese, Farsi, French, Haitian-Creole, Hmong, Italian, Korean, Lao, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Tagalog, Ukranian, and Vietnamese "10 Ways Flyers" : Ideas for how partners can promote the tax credits: 10 Ways for Businesses; Early childhood Programs; Colleges and Universities; Job Training programs; Housing Groups More on Getting Media Coverage for Your Campaign IRS Territory Manager List	Assistance for Individual Taxpayers What do I need to know about the Earned Income Credit (EIC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC)? EITC Assistant This tool can help tax filers determine eligibility for the Earned Income Credit, filing status and if any children can be claimed as a “qualifying children” for the tax credit. This tool can also help tax filers estimate the refund amount of an expected credit. Why Pay When You Can Get Your Taxes Done for Free? What are Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites and how can I find one? Free Tax Filing Assistance through AARP Search by zip code for an AARP Tax-Aide site near you.
Links to IRS Tax Forms and Information Guide to Key IRS Forms and Instructions on the EIC and CTC How to Help a Worker Who Filed a Tax Return But Didn’t Claim the EIC or CTC Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers	Questions and Answers About the EITC Tax Credits and Public Benefits How to Claim Credits for Back Years Social Security Number Requirements EIC and CTC: Eligibility Rules for Immigrant Workers Non-Traditional Families College Financial Aid Military Personnel
More Outreach Strategies and Examples Women’s Groups The Court System Emergency Response Plans	More Facts About Tax Credits Child and Dependent Care Credit Saver’s Credit EIC and Workers Not Raising Children Workers Raising Children with Disabilities Education Tax Credits: The Hope Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit State Earned Income Credits: DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA,MA,MD,ME,MI,MN, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OK, OR, RI, VA, VT,WI IRS Split Refund Policy Promoting Tax Credits with Asset Development Opportunities: IDAs, Financial Education Classes, Credit Repair and Homeownership and Car Ownership Programs Roth IRAs Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics
Additional Tools for Promoting the Tax Credits Reports and Resources National Coalitions Additional Tool Kits and Materials	Information About Free Tax Filing Assistance Efforts to Regulate Refund Anticipation Loans (RALS) Precautions Consumers Can Take If They seek Help From a Commercial Tax Preparer Stored Value Cards Free File Alliance and I-Can File