California Earned Income Tax Credit Claims Increase

CALIFORNIA>> CalEITC4me, the statewide education and outreach campaign to get the word out to more than 600,000 eligible low-income working Californians about the state’s earned income tax credit (CalEITC) program, has reached even more eligible households. In its second year, the program has reached more through multi-lingual education and grassroots outreach, enhanced website tools, expanded social media and free tax preparation services. Franchise Tax Board reports that as of Feb. 25, the state had issued nearly $133 million of CalEITC claims, representing a 50 percent increase over the same time last year. “By increasing the capacity of organizations already working in communities – distributing multilingual materials, offering and connecting people to free tax preparation, and using our website tools including a heat map to reach eligible families – we continue to help create economic security for working families,” said Joseph N. Sanberg, Chair, CalEITC4me. This year, CalEITC4Me campaign reached more families through increased social media outreach, including nearly 900,000 reached on Twitter; ethnic media partnerships and briefings; the Free Tax Prep Bus Tour; a texting campaign to reach eligible families on-the-go on their mobile devices and more.