Serving Immigrants

About the Center for Economic Progress

• Providing free tax preparation to low-income taxpayers for 11 years

• Served over 25,000 taxpayers during 2005

• The Center also runs a Low-Income Tax Clinic (LITC)

• Provides financial literacy and specialized tax training

Keep it simple

• Basic information is needed on issues like filing requirements, where to get forms

• Translators are needed in areas where we historically only served English-speaking clients. Number of immigrant taxpayers growing in areas like Minnesota and Colorado.

• Taxpayer education on W-4 and W-5 forms

Issues Surrounding Immigrant Taxpayers

• “Should I file a tax return?”

• Abuse by employers of advance Earned Income Credit

• Need to apply for ITINs for themselves and dependents

• VITA sites apprehensive about doing ITIN applications

• VITA volunteers uncomfortable with ITINs

Partnership with IRS

• Local IRS SPEC ( Stakeholders, Partnerships, Education and Communication)

• ITIN and informational events• Education (e.g. 1099s and quarterly

pymts)• HIRE (Hispanic IRS Employees)• Taxpayer Advocate Service• TAC Center• LITCs (IRS funded)

Other Strategies

• Become a Certifying Acceptance Agent

• Partnership with other community-based organizations

• Partnership with the Mexican Consulate

• Banks