April 4, 2022
We are excited to share the third edition of the Tax Prep Digest, a weekly update from Prosperity Now that brings you the latest news from the IRS, TaxSlayer and our national network of Free Tax Prep Partners.
VITA/AARP/TCE Free Tax Prep Production as of 3/28/22
- Free Tax Prep Sites Active = 6,635
- Federal Returns Accepted = 1,374,164
- Federal Refunds Claimed = $1,987,808,997
The DelBene Dispatch
The EITC Lookback is back (it never left!)
In this edition, Darren Liddell from Ideas42 Ventures & the TON Steering Committee talks us through his experiences with making sure all his clients who can are benefiting from the EITC Lookback rule and provides some practical guidance on how to make sure that is happening at your tax site as well.
Updates
Prosperity Now
Are you a VITA Grantee who is still waiting to be funded? Please contact Graham via email at goneill@prosperitynow.org to get help now!
If your org is among the 23% that have not received funding, Prosperity Now can help you navigate the process. Please reach out ASAP if you need help. To date, we have helped 15 VITA organizations receive their funding, and we are standing by to help you do the same!
Check out the refreshed Taxpayer Opportunity Network
Over the past several months, Prosperity Now and the Taxpayer Opportunity Network Steering Committee worked together to build a shared overview and purpose that grounds our work together around the statement:
We envision a tax system that is just, equitable, accessible, and free from structural racism.
The Taxpayer Opportunity Network connects free tax preparation programs, advocates, coalitions, and other stakeholders to resources, information, network peers, and training to help them support vulnerable populations and advocate for a more equitable tax system.
Taxpayer Opportunity Network Tax Season Debrief – May 5, 2022 @ 2pm EST
This webinar is a chance for you to share the amazing job that your programs did during the 2022 filing season and the challenges that were faced along the way. During the Debrief, you can also uplift recommendations and ideas for making the 2023 filing season better for you, your organization, and, most importantly, the taxpayers we all serve. Everything you share during the Debrief will help inform the reports and recommendations that Prosperity Now provides IRS leadership.
It’s tax season! To help navigate American Rescue Plan tax policy changes, Prosperity Now has created a video series with our tax experts to inform people on the different tax issues that affect the communities we work with, including the need for refundable tax credits, resources for community tax prep, and changes needed to the current tax code that leave out millions of working families. Check out our #TaxTuesday video series below and look out for more videos every Tuesday!
- Making Tax Policy More Inclusive
- What you might not know about the Earned Income Tax Credit
- 3 Things You Need to Know About the Child Tax Credit
- Funding IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)
- Four Facts Latinxs Need to Know About the Child Tax Credit
TAKE ACTION: Sign on to Support VITA Funding at $45M for FY2023
In the coming weeks, Congress will consider 2023 funding levels, and Prosperity Now and United Way are partnering to push Congress to fund VITA at $45M for the fiscal year 2023. Click the above link to read and sign on to our letter of support!
IRS/SPEC
The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that if they’re unable to file their tax return by this year’s April 18 deadline, there’s an easy, online option to get more time to complete their return.
Bookmark the IRS News Releases Page!
Stay updated on all the IRS news that is fit to print by bookmarking this page and staying current on everything that IRS releases as they release it.
TaxSlayer
TaxSlayer Pro Online: What we know
A listing of all the technical issues that TaxSlayer is aware of. This is a good page to bookmark and check if you run into an issue in the software.
National Partners
Get It Back Campaign – Tax Time Thursdays
The Center on Budget & Policy Priorities’ Get It Back Campaign is hosting a learning series held throughout the tax season that features a brief presentation (20 minutes or less) on aspects of EITC outreach.
The Collaborative – Utilizing an AmeriCorps VISTA to Build Capacity Within Your Program – 4/6/22 @ 12 pm
The event will provide information on how your organization can advance its work through a partnership with the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Nonprofits are eligible to bring on a paid, full-time volunteer for a year through AmeriCorps, and VISTAS can contribute to new and innovative projects or help to develop new programs within organizations.