Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – Online Appointment Scheduling

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

‘Every year, low-income Californians leave an estimated $2 billion on the table’ - NYTIMES. Since 2002, Alameda County Social Services Agency (SSA) has been providing no-cost IRS certified tax preparation to low-and-moderate-income taxpayers. SSA Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) preparers are helping taxpayers receive large tax refunds by claiming credits they have earned. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is provided to working families and single or married individuals. Individuals and households whose 2017 income was $54,000 or less qualify for the Federal EITC. There is also California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) which the county extends to its taxpayers. This program is designed to put money in the pockets of low-income working people. Starting with the 2017 tax year, families earning wages or self-employment income up to $22,300 may qualify for CalEITC services. Until 2017, taxpayers would either call-in to schedule an appointment or walk-in to meet an available tax preparer. The new system automates the appointment scheduling process as well as allows taxpayers to search for available appointments online. This empowers taxpayers granting them more flexibilty to schedule appointments from anywhere, any time. It also frees up valuable volunteer resources allowing them to focus on completing more tax returns.