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[ MUSIC ] >>Frank: WELCOME TO "THERE'S NO
PLACE LIKE HOME," THE RADIO SHOW COMING TO YOU ON WRXB 1590 AM
AND PINELLAS COUNTY CONNECTION TV.
THIS PROGRAM IS PRESENTED TO YOU AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR
INFORMATION THAT CAN HELP YOU FULFILL THE DREAM OF OWNING YOUR
VERY OWN HOME. WE ALSO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE
GOOD LIFE IN PINELLAS COUNTY AS WELL AS OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST.
THE SPONSOR OF THIS PROGRAM IS THE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY OF
PINELLAS COUNTY, WHICH OFFERS THE FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS
PROGRAM, "YOUR KEY TO HOME OWNERSHIP," HELPING PEOPLE IN
PINELLAS, PASCO, AND POLK COUNTIES MAKE THEIR DREAMS OF
HOME OWNERSHIP A REALITY. MY NAME IS FRANK BOWMAN, AND
I'LL BE YOUR HOST FOR TODAY'S SHOW.
MY USUAL COMRADE, JANE MUHRLIN, IS NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US TODAY,
BUT SHE SENDS HER REGARDS AND PROMISES THAT SHE WILL BE BACK
NEXT MONTH. TODAY, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT A
PROGRAM THAT WE TRY TO PRESENT TO YOU EACH YEAR.
THE FACT THAT IT IS THE FIRST OF THE YEAR HERE IN JANUARY AND
INCOME TAX SEASON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, WE HAVE A SPECIAL
PROGRAM TO TALK ABOUT, SOME WAYS THAT WE CAN PUT MONEY IN YOUR
POCKET. WE COVER THIS TOPIC EACH YEAR.
AND COMING UP IN A FEW MINUTES IS OUR RETURNING GUEST, EDDIE
BURCH, WHO IS THE COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR WITH
THE JUVENILE WELFARE BOARD. HOWEVER, BEFORE I INTRODUCE
MR. BURCH, I HAVE A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR, THE HOUSING FINANCE
AUTHORITY. THE HFA IS OFFERING THE
FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS IN PINELLAS,
PASCO, AND POLK COUNTIES WHO HAVE NEVER OWNED A HOME, HAVE
NOT OWNED A HOME IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, OR WHO ARE
VETERANS. THE HFA OFFERS A LOW RATE ON ITS
30-YEAR FIXED-RATE MORTGAGE, AND IF YOU NEED A LITTLE HELP WITH
DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COSTS, THEY CAN HELP YOU OUT WITH THAT
WITH THEIR HOME KEY SECOND MORTGAGE AVAILABLE IN PINELLAS,
PASCO, AND POLK COUNTIES. TO GET YOUR KEY TO HOME
OWNERSHIP, CALL 727-464-8210 OR VISIT THE WEB SITE AT
pinellascounty.org/ community/hfa.
AND NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME OUR SPECIAL GUEST FOR
TODAY. EDDIE BURCH IS THE
COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR WITH THE JUVENILE
WELFARE BOARD OF PINELLAS COUNTY.
EDDIE WORKS WITH THE PINELLAS PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP AND JOINS
US TODAY TO DISCUSS AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM THAT COULD PUT MONEY IN
YOUR POCKET DURING TAX TIME. AND WE'LL SHARE MONEY-SAVING
TIPS AS WE PREPARE FOR THIS YEAR'S TAX SEASON.
WELCOME TO "THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME," EDDIE.
>>Eddie Burch: GOOD MORNING, FRANK.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME. >>Frank: WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT
YOU'RE HERE AGAIN. WE'RE ALSO HAPPY TO HELP YOU AND
THE JUVENILE WELFARE BOARD SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THESE
REALLY WONDERFUL PROGRAMS. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE DO
TRY TO COVER THIS TOPIC EACH YEAR AND WE THINK IT IS VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY HERE.
AND WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE GREAT WORK THAT YOUR
ORGANIZATION DOES TO LET FOLKS KNOW ABOUT THE MONEY THEY MAY
NOT KNOW THEY ARE ENTITLED TO THROUGH THE EARNED INCOME TAX
CREDIT, OR I GUESS YOU GUYS REFER TO IT AS THE EITC PROGRAM.
TELL US ABOUT THE PINELLAS PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP AND THE
TIE-IN WITH EITC. >>Eddie Burch: OKAY.
THE PINELLAS PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP BEGAN BACK IN 2001,
AND IT WAS KNOWN AS THE WEALTH BUILDING COALITION BACK THEN.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE CHANGED THE NAME TO PINELLAS
PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP. BASICALLY, WHAT IT IS, IT'S A
GROUP OF ORGANIZATIONS, SOME OF THEM ARE NONPROFITS, SOME OF
THEM ARE GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS, AND EVEN SOME
FOR-PROFITS AND SOME BANKS ARE REPRESENTED ON THE PPP, AND
WE'RE ALL INTERESTED IN INCREASING AWARENESS ABOUT
FINANCIAL ASSET BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE. BASICALLY, HELPING PEOPLE WITH
LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOMES MAXIMIZE THE MONEY THAT THEY DO HAVE.
AND A BIG PART OF THAT IS PROMOTING THE EARNED INCOME TAX
CREDIT, AS YOU MENTIONED, AND PROVIDING A VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THAT'S VITA FOR SHORT.
THAT IS AN IRS PROGRAM WHERE THEY PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO PROVIDE THAT LOCAL SERVICE, AND THE PPP
IS THE ENTITY IN PINELLAS COUNTY THAT THE IRS PARTNERS WITH FOR
THAT. >>Frank: OKAY.
WELL, FOR SOME OF OUR LISTENERS THAT MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT IS, COULD YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT WORKS
FOR FOLKS? >>Eddie Burch: SURE, FRANK.
I WAS ACTUALLY SURPRISED WHEN I DID THE MATH IN MY HEAD THAT
IT'S BEEN AROUND 38 YEARS NOW. 1975 IS WHEN THE EARNED INCOME
TAX WAS ENACTED. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE REFER TO IT
AS ONE OF THE LARGEST ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS THAT THE
UNITED STATES HAS EVER HAD BECAUSE IT DOES -- THE MONEY
THAT PEOPLE GET BACK FROM THEIR EITC DOES LIFT A LOT OF FAMILIES
OUT OF -- YOU KNOW, ABOVE THE POVERTY LEVEL.
AS OF 2012, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT 6.6 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
LIFTED OUT OF POVERTY BY THE EITC AND HALF OF THOSE ARE
CHILDREN. THAT'S THE REASON THAT THE
JUVENILE WELFARE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN BEING A PART OF
THIS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT GET HELPED BY
IT HAVE KIDS AND ARE RAISING KIDS, AND THIS HELPS THEM
PROVIDE BETTER FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
IN 2011 ALONE, 26 MILLION PEOPLE CLAIMED THE EITC AND RECEIVED
$59 BILLION IN EITC CREDITS. SO 26 MILLION PEOPLE, ABOUT,
WHAT, 300 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS. BUT ONLY ABOUT FOUR OUT OF FIVE
PEOPLE CLAIM THE EITC EVEN THOUGH IT'S MONEY THAT THEY'VE
EARNED AND THEY HAVE COMING TO THEM.
>>Frank: UM-HUM. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS
WE'RE REAL HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE BECAUSE WE ALSO AGREE WITH
THE JUVENILE WELFARE BOARD THAT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM
TO INDIVIDUALS IN PINELLAS COUNTY AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY
IN GENERAL. HOW DOES THIS PROGRAM BENEFIT
THE COMMUNITY? I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF CIVIC
PARTICIPATION AND EVEN LOCAL BANKING BUSINESSES AND THINGS
LIKE THAT, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOLKS.
THEY SEE A BENEFIT HERE. EXPLAIN HOW THIS BENEFITS NOT
ONLY THE PEOPLE RECEIVING THE TAX CREDITS BUT THE COMMUNITY IN
GENERAL. >>Eddie Burch: WELL, IT BENEFITS
DIRECTLY A LOT OF WORKING PEOPLE THAT QUALIFY FOR THIS CREDIT.
AND THAT'S MONEY THAT IF PEOPLE WEREN'T CLAIMING EITC WOULDN'T
BE COMING BACK INTO THE PINELLAS COUNTY ECONOMY.
LAST YEAR AT OUR VITA SITES, THE 3,200-SOME-ODD PEOPLE THAT WE
HELPED GOT $5.3 MILLION IN TOTAL REFUNDS.
SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT IMPACT, YEAH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF
THAT THEY WOULD HAVE GOT IF THEY GOT THEIR TAXES DONE ANYWHERE.
BUT WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THAT ONLY ABOUT FOUR OUT OF FIVE PEOPLE
CLAIM THE EITC, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT SEE 20% OF THAT NOT COMING
BACK TO THE ECONOMY IF WE WEREN'T OUT THERE DOING THIS.
AND THAT'S MONEY THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE FIX THEIR HOMES, HELP
KEEP BUSINESSES OPEN AND COMMUNITIES WHERE
LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE LIVE.
I MET A SINGLE MOM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WITH TWO KIDS, AND SHE
LIKES TO -- WHEN SHE GETS THAT EITC REFUND, SHE PAYS HER RENT
AHEAD FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE LESS THING
THAT SHE'S GOT TO WORRY ABOUT. SHE KNOWS THAT, YOU KNOW,
WHATEVER COMES UP, AT LEAST I'VE GOT MY RENT PAID FOR A FEW
MONTHS. >>Frank: THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
IT'S A WINDFALL, SO TO SPEAK. SHE MAKES SURE THAT SHE AND HER
FAMILY WILL HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND GREAT USE
OF THE MONEY. NOW, THE EARNED INCOME TAX
CREDIT IS ONLY ACCESSED BY FILING AN INCOME TAX FORM.
DO FOLKS HAVE TO HAVE ANY CERTAIN LEVEL OF INCOME DURING
THE YEAR TO QUALIFY TO PARTICIPATE?
>>Eddie Burch: YEAH, THE EITC -- ACTUALLY, THE -- I'VE GOT THE
NEW INCOME LIMITS THAT HAVE JUST BEEN PUBLISHED FOR THE 2013 TAX
YEAR, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE JUST WRAPPING UP, AND THE MAXIMUM
INCOME THAT YOU CAN HAVE AND GET THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, IT
DEPENDS ON WHETHER YOU'RE MARRIED OR FILING JOINTLY --
MARRIED FILING JOINTLY OR IF YOU ARE SINGLE AND HOW MANY
QUALIFYING CHILDREN YOU HAVE. IF YOU HAVE NO KIDS AT ALL AND
YOU'RE SINGLE, YOU CAN EARN UP TO $14,340.
IF YOU'RE MARRIED FILING JOINTLY, THAT GOES UP TO
$19,680. BUT IF YOU HAVE ONE CHILD, TWO
QUALIFYING CHILDREN, OR EVEN THREE OR MORE QUALIFYING
CHILDREN, THOSE LIMITS GO UP. AND SOMEBODY WITH THREE OR MORE
QUALIFYING CHILDREN IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD, A SINGLE PERSON CAN
EARN UP TO $46,227 OR A MARRIED FILING JOINTLY COUPLE CAN EARN
UP TO $51,567 AND STILL QUALIFY FOR THE EITC.
SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT CAPTURES A LOT OF THOSE MIDDLE-INCOME
PEOPLE THERE. THE MAXIMUM CREDIT CAN BE UP TO
$6,044 IF YOU'VE GOT THREE OR MORE KIDS.
THE MAXIMUM CREDIT DOES -- IT GOES DOWN -- AS YOU EARN MORE,
IT KIND OF GOES UP TO A CERTAIN LEVEL AND THEN LEVELS OFF AND
GOES BACK DOWN. BUT IF YOU'RE RIGHT IN THAT
MIDDLE AREA RIGHT THERE, YOU CAN GET BACK UP TO $6,044, SO YOU
CAN SEE WHY THIS IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE IF YOU QUALIFY
FOR IT. >>Frank: EXACTLY.
AND THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT HELPS THE WORKING POOR, PEOPLE WHO ARE
WORKING AND GETTING INCOME BUT JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DOLLARS
TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES IN THE WAY THAT THEY NEED TO OR WOULD
LIKE TO. SO FOLKS WHO HAVE NO CHILDREN
MAY STILL QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM?
>>Eddie Burch: YEAH, IF YOU HAVE NO CHILDREN, YEAH, THE INCOME
LIMITS ARE LOWER AND THE MAXIMUM CREDIT YOU CAN GET WITH NO KIDS
IS $487. >>Frank: OKAY.
>>Eddie Burch: SO IT GOES UP SIGNIFICANTLY.
WHEN YOU HAVE ONE CHILD, THE MAXIMUM CREDIT GOES UP TO 3,250.
>>Frank: WELL, I CAN SEE WHY THE JUVENILE WELFARE BOARD IS VERY
INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THIS PROGRAM WORKS WELL IN OUR COUNTY
BECAUSE I KNOW THE JWB DOES A LOT OF WORK TRYING TO HELP
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN ALL OVER. NOW, WE KEEP SAYING TO EARN THIS
EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, YOU HAVE TO FILE A TAX RETURN.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE BEST FEATURES OF THE VITA PROGRAM IS
THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY HAS TO FILE INCOME
TAX. IF YOU'VE WORKED AND YOU'VE GOT
W-2 FORMS AT HOME, THE IRS IS EXPECTING YOU TO SUBMIT THAT
REPORT. BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM,
YOU PROVIDE FREE TAX PREPARATION TO FOLKS.
>>Eddie Burch: THAT'S RIGHT, YEAH.
THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX PROGRAM, KEYWORD THERE BEING
"VOLUNTEER." THE TAX PREPARERS ARE ALL
VOLUNTEERS. THEY ARE CERTIFIED.
THEY HAVE TO TAKE TESTS AND CERTIFY, PASS THESE TESTS THAT
THE IRS PUTS TOGETHER SO THAT YOU KNOW THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO
DO THIS. AND IT'S FREE.
THERE'S NO SURPRISE CHARGES. YOU DON'T GET CHARGED AN EXTRA
FEE FOR CLAIMING THIS CREDIT OR THAT CREDIT.
THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, WE
CAN'T ACCEPT ANY KIND OF EXCHANGE FOR PROVIDING THAT
SERVICE. WE HAD ABOUT 122 VOLUNTEERS LAST
YEAR, AND THE ELIGIBILITY GOES A LITTLE BIT ALONG THE LINES OF
THE EITC. WE SERVE CLIENTS WHO HAVE
ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME OF UP TO $52,000.
IF WE START DOING A RETURN AND WE FIND OUT THAT THEIR AGI GOES
A LITTLE BIT ABOVE THAT, WE'VE GOT SOME GRAY AREA.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEND SOMEBODY AWAY IF THEY GO A LITTLE BIT
ABOVE THAT $52,000. BUT, GENERALLY, THAT'S THE
LIMIT. SOME THINGS ARE OUT OF SCOPE.
FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU HAVE BUSINESS LOSSES THAT YOU NEED TO
REPORT, THEN THE VITA SERVICE CAN'T HELP YOU.
BUT, GENERALLY, MOST PEOPLE THAT EARN LESS THAN $52,000 CAN COME
INTO A VITA SITE -- WE'VE GOT 12 OF THEM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY --
BRING THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION, AND YOU CAN BE SERVED AND
THEY'LL E-FILE YOUR TAX RETURN FREE.
IF YOU GET DIRECT DEPOSIT, SOMETIMES IT'S IN YOUR BANK
ACCOUNT IN A FEW DAYS. >>Frank: WELL, I MEAN, IT'S A
TREMENDOUS PROGRAM. NOW, FOLKS WHO WOULD LIKE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS, YOU'VE GOT VITA CENTERS LOCATED ALL ACROSS
THE COUNTY. WHERE ARE SOME OF THOSE
LOCATIONS? >>Eddie Burch: YEAH, THEY ARE
SPREAD FROM SOUTHERN PINELLAS COUNTY ALL THE WAY UP INTO
TARPON SPRINGS. WE HAVE 12 FULL-TIME SITES.
EIGHT OF THEM ARE ALSO JUVENILE WELFARE BOARD NEIGHBORHOOD
FAMILY CENTERS, SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THESE
SITES FOR MANY SERVICES. WE'VE GOT SITES -- WE'VE GOT ONE
AT CHILDS PARK YMCA, HIGH POINT NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILY CENTER,
MATTIE WILLIAMS NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILY CENTER IN SAFETY HARBOR,
THE DAYSTAR LIFE CENTER, THE HISPANIC OUTREACH CENTER HERE IN
CLEARWATER, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. FAMILY CENTER IN CLEARWATER,
THE ENOCH DAVIS CENTER IN ST. PETERSBURG, ALONG WITH THE
JAMES B. SANDERLIN CENTER IN ST. PETERSBURG.
THOSE ARE OUR TWO BUSIEST SITES. THE TAMPA BAY BEACHES CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE HAS A SITE OUT ON ST. PETE BEACH.
THE GRAYDI NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILY CENTER IN LARGO, THE LEALMAN AND
ASIAN NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILY CENTER IN ST. PETERSBURG, AND THE UNION
ACADEMY CITIZENS ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS FAMILY CENTER UP IN
TARPON SPRINGS. THOSE ARE OUR 12 SITES.
MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.
>>Frank: OF COURSE, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE SITES ARE ALL
STAFFED BY VOLUNTEERS. WHAT'S YOUR SOURCE OF
VOLUNTEERS? AND HOW DO THEY GET THE
QUALIFICATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?
>>Eddie Burch: OUR VOLUNTEERS, REALLY, THEY RANGE FROM STUDENTS
TO RETIREES AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
WE EVEN HAVE A COUPLE OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS VOLUNTEER LAST
YEAR AS GREETERS/SCREENERS AT OUR SITES.
WE'VE BEEN GROWING OUR COLLEGE STUDENT PARTICIPATION.
THE USF ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE OF BUSINESS HAS AN INTERNSHIP
PROGRAM WHERE SOMEWHERE AROUND 25 STUDENTS EVERY YEAR INTERN
AND WORK AT VITA SITES. AND THEY WORK ANYWHERE FROM 75
HOURS PER TAX SEASON UP. STETSON COLLEGE OF LAW, THE
STUDENTS AT STETSON COLLEGE OF LAW HAVE A PRO BONO REQUIREMENT
THAT THEY MUST FULFILL, LIKE A LOT OF LAWYERS DO ONCE THEY GET
INTO PRACTICE. AND ABOUT 30 OF THEM EVERY YEAR
DO THAT THROUGH WORKING AT VITA SITES.
AND THEN THIS YEAR, CLEARWATER CHRISTIAN COLLEGE IS INITIATING
AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, AND WE HAVE A FEW STUDENTS THAT ARE
GOING TO BE THE FIRST PIONEERS AT CLEARWATER CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
WORKING AS TAX PREPARERS. THE PROCESS, YOU CAN TRAIN, YOU
CAN LEARN ALL THE LESSONS YOU NEED AND TRAIN ONLINE THROUGH
THE IRS'S LINK AND LEARN WEB SITE.
WE DO ORDER PRINTED MATERIALS, BOOKS, MANUALS THAT CAN HELP,
AND WE LET ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS KNOW.
A LOT OF THEM FIND OUT ABOUT IT THROUGH OUR taxes-4-free.com
WEB SITE WHERE WE HAVE OUR VOLUNTEER APPLICATION ONLINE
THERE. WHEN WE RECEIVE A VOLUNTEER
APPLICATION, WE LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT THESE
MATERIALS HERE. YOU CAN COME PICK THEM UP.
YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING ONLINE. WE ALSO DO OFFER CLASSROOM
SESSIONS TO HELP OUT WITH THAT WHERE YOU ACTUALLY GO AND GET
SOME HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE USING THE TAXWISE SOFTWARE THAT'S USED
AT THE SITES. AND WE'RE WORKING ON THOSE
TRAINING SESSIONS. AND IT'S REALLY -- IT IS AN
INTENSIVE CERTIFICATION PROCESS. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND
SOME TIME GOING THROUGH THOSE LESSONS AND LEARNING THAT TAX
LAW AND THEN TAKING THAT TEST ONLINE.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN LEARN THROUGH IT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN ACCOUNTANT TO DO THIS.
YOU CAN LEARN EVERYTHING THROUGH THE MATERIALS THAT ARE GIVEN TO
YOU. >>Frank: SO EVERYBODY -- IF
SOMEBODY IS INTERESTED IN GETTING THEIR TAXES OR GETTING
ASSISTANCE IN FILING THEIR TAXES THROUGH A VITA SITE, THEY CAN BE
RELATIVELY ASSURED THAT THE PERSON WHO IS GOING TO BE
HELPING THEM IS WELL TRAINED AND CERTIFIED IN THE TAX PREPARATION
AND IN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR EITC.
>>Eddie Burch: ABSOLUTELY. IT IS PARAMOUNT THAT OUR
VOLUNTEERS ARE TRAINED NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOVE THEIR SCOPE OF
CERTIFICATION. THERE'S A BASIC LEVEL
CERTIFICATION, AN ADVANCED CERTIFICATION, AND THEN THERE IS
A SEPARATE CERTIFICATION IF YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING WITH
SOMEBODY WHO HAS A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT, FOR INSTANCE.
SO, YEAH, WE MAKE SURE NOBODY DOES ANYTHING BEYOND THEIR
CERTIFICATION. WE'RE REAL GOOD ABOUT CALLING
AROUND TO THE NEARBY SITES TO SEE IF SOMEBODY -- IF A CLIENT
NEEDS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE A VOLUNTEER THERE FOR,
WE'LL TRY TO ARRANGE THAT THEY CAN GO TO THE PROPER VOLUNTEER
TO GET THAT DONE. AND EVERY RETURN IS QUALITY
REVIEWED BY ANOTHER VOLUNTEER CERTIFIED AT LEAST TO THAT
LEVEL. THERE ARE TWO SETS OF EYES
LOOKING AT EVERYTHING. AND OUR VOLUNTEERS HAVE THICK
MANUALS. I KNOW YOU CAN'T SEE IT ON THE
RADIO, BUT I BROUGHT ONE WITH ME.
AND THESE CONTAIN DECISION TREES AND FLOW CHARTS AND I
VOLUNTEERED SEVERAL TIMES LAST YEAR, AND, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T
JUST TRY TO RELY ON MY MEMORY. I ALWAYS CHECKED.
I THINK OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THAT,
REFERRING TO THESE MANUALS, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THIS PERSON
THAT DOESN'T THINK THAT THEY QUALIFY FOR THE EITC, LET'S SEE
IF THEY DO BEFORE WE ASSUME THEY DON'T.
>>Frank: RIGHT. AND ARE YOU STILL SEEKING
VOLUNTEERS? I KNOW IT'S JANUARY AND THE
CENTERS ARE OPEN, BUT ARE YOU STILL LOOKING FOR MORE
VOLUNTEERS? >>Eddie Burch: YEAH.
WE CAN ALWAYS WORK -- OUR SITES OPEN TOWARD THE END OF JANUARY,
SO THERE'S STILL TIME TO GET CERTIFIED.
>>Frank: OKAY. SO THEY ARE NOT OPEN AS OF
TODAY. THEY'LL BE OPEN LATER THIS
MONTH. >>Eddie Burch: UM-HUM.
AND THE SITES ARE OPEN UNTIL APRIL 15th, MOST OF THEM, IF
THEY ARE OPEN ON THAT -- WHATEVER DAY OF THE WEEK THAT
IS. SO THERE'S ALWAYS TIME TO GET
CERTIFIED AND GO OUT AND VOLUNTEER.
AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE A TAX PREPARER AND TAKE THE TEST
AND DO ALL THE CERTIFICATION, WE NEED GREETERS/SCREENERS AT OUR
SITES. THEY WELCOME PEOPLE IN AND MAKE
SURE THEY HAVE ALL THE CORRECT DOCUMENTATION WITH THEM.
WE ALSO NEED LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS AT SOME SITES.
WE'VE GOT A SITE AT THE LEALMAN ASIAN NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILY CENTER
AND THE HISPANIC OUTREACH CENTER, SO SPEAKERS OF SPANISH
OR SOME ASIAN LANGUAGES COULD HELP OUT A LOT THERE.
I MENTIONED THOSE GREETERS/SCREENERS.
THEY ARE REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE HAVING THE PROPER
DOCUMENTATION IS IMPORTANT. IF WE HAVE A SECOND, FRANK, I'D
LIKE TO MENTION SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BRING
WITH THEM. >>Frank: I WAS JUST GOING TO
SAY, WHY DON'T WE LET FOLKS KNOW HOW THEY GET IN TOUCH WITH THE
CENTERS AND WHAT THEY NEED TO BRING.
>>Eddie Burch: OKAY. THE BEST THING TO DO IS ALL OF
OUR SITES HAVE DIFFERENT DAYS AND HOURS OF OPERATION.
SO WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO CALL THE SITE OR GO ON TO OUR WEB
SITE WHERE WE'LL HAVE THE HOURS OF OPERATION UP THERE.
>>Frank: THE WEB SITE IS WHAT? >>Eddie Burch: THAT'S
www.taxes-4-free.com AND THAT LISTS ALL THE SITES
WITH THEIR HOURS OF OPERATION. THE PHONE NUMBERS ARE UP THERE.
YOU CAN ALSO CALL 2-1-1, AND THEY KNOW THE HOURS OF OPERATION
FOR ALL THE SITES. AND THE LIST OF THINGS THAT YOU
NEED TO BRING IS ALSO ON THE WEB SITE, BUT I'LL JUST GO THROUGH
IT VERY QUICKLY HERE. YOU NEED TO BRING PHOTO ID.
YOU NEED TO BRING THE SOCIAL SECURITY CARD FOR THE TAXPAYER,
SPOUSE, AND ANY DEPENDENTS, OR IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CARD, A
SOCIAL SECURITY VERIFICATION LETTER ISSUED BY THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION WILL DO. IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO KNOW
THOSE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS. WE NEED TO SEE THE CARD.
THAT IS AN IRS REQUIREMENT. IT HELPS US CUT DOWN ON SOME
IDENTITY THEFT. SO YOU NEED TO BRING THOSE
SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS, KNOW THE BIRTH DATES FOR ANY DEPENDENTS
THAT ARE LISTED ON YOUR RETURN. OBVIOUSLY, YOU NEED TO BRING
YOUR W-2 FORMS AND YOUR 1099s, ANYTHING THAT SHOWS INCOME,
ANYTHING THAT SHOWS INTEREST INCOME, DIVIDEND STATEMENTS, IF
YOU HAVE ANY OF THOSE. YOU KNOW, BANK ACCOUNTS THAT
EARN INTEREST. AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO DIRECT
DEPOSIT, WHICH WE DO RECOMMEND, IT'S GOOD TO BRING A BLANK
CHECK, BECAUSE THAT HAS YOUR ROUTING NUMBER ON IT AND YOUR
ACCOUNT NUMBER, AND THE VOLUNTEER CAN PUT THAT IN SO
THAT THE IRS CAN ELECTRONICALLY SEND THOSE FUNDS TO YOUR BANK
ACCOUNT SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR A CHECK.
YOU DON'T HAVE A CHECK SITTING IN YOUR MAILBOX THAT SOMEBODY
MIGHT COME BY AND TAKE OFF WITH. IF YOU PAY FOR DAY CARE, IT'S
GOOD TO KNOW THE AMOUNT THAT YOU PAID FOR THAT.
AND YOUR DAY CARE PROVIDER SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU AN
EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. IF IT'S A FAMILY DAY CARE HOME,
OFTEN THAT'S THE PROVIDER'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
SO YOU CAN BRING THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE YOU GET TO
OFFSET SOME OF YOUR TAXES WITH THOSE EXPENSES.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU'RE MARRIED FILING JOINTLY,
BOTH SPOUSES HAVE TO SIGN THE PAPERWORK AT THE VITA SITE.
SO IT'S GOOD TO COME TOGETHER AS A COUPLE, OTHERWISE YOU MIGHT
HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE US PRINT IT OUT AND HOLD IT, AND THEN THE
SPOUSE MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK AND SIGN IT AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT
A LITTLE LONGER THAT WAY. >>Frank: PEOPLE CAN -- YOU
MENTIONED THEY CAN GET THIS INFORMATION ON THE WEB SITE.
SHOULD PEOPLE CALL INTO THE SITES AND GET APPOINTMENTS?
OR IS IT A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED?
WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS THERE? >>Eddie Burch: ALMOST ALL OF OUR
SITES ARE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.
USUALLY THERE'S NOT A LONG WAIT. WE DO RECOMMEND THAT YOU CALL
THE SITE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE OPEN.
THE ENOCH DAVIS CENTER IS THE ONE SITE THAT THEY DO
APPOINTMENTS. BUT WHAT YOU DO IS YOU GO BY
THERE IN THE MORNING, TAKE A NUMBER.
THEY ARE OPEN MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, FRIDAYS FROM 1 TO 4.
SO YOU GO BY IN THE MORNING, GET A NUMBER, AND THEN WHEN YOU COME
BACK IN THE AFTERNOON, THEY SERVE ACCORDING TO THOSE
NUMBERS. EARLY IN THE TAX SEASON -- THEY
OPEN UP IN FEBRUARY -- THOSE NUMBERS GO PRETTY FAST.
SO IT'S GOOD TO GET BY THERE EARLY IN THE MORNING, IF YOU
CAN, AND GET ONE OF THOSE NUMBERS THERE.
BUT OTHERWISE, JUST COME ON IN. >>Frank: RIGHT.
YOU DID MENTION THAT THE SITES ARE OPEN RIGHT UP THROUGH
APRIL 15th, FILING DAY. BUT IT'S PROBABLY ALWAYS A GOOD
IDEA FOR FOLKS TO TRY TO GET THE TAX OBLIGATION AND THE TAX
FILING DONE AS EARLY AS THEY CAN IN THE SEASON.
THERE'S SOMETHING WE KEEP MENTIONING, AND I THINK IT
DESERVES SOME EMPHASIS HERE. ALL OF THESE SERVICES ARE
PROVIDED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMERS, THE PEOPLE COMING IN
TO GET THEIR TAXES DONE. DO YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF SUPPORT
FOR YOUR -- OF COURSE, MOST OF THE FOLKS DOING THE WORK ARE
VOLUNTEERS, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE SOME LOCAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR
OPERATING THESE CENTERS, DON'T YOU?
>>Eddie Burch: YEAH, I MEAN, THROUGH THE PINELLAS PROSPERITY
PARTNERSHIP, WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT ENTITIES PITCHING IN
TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. OF COURSE, THE JUVENILE WELFARE
BOARD, WE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO IT.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILY CENTERS, THEY PROVIDE THAT SPACE FOR THE
SERVICE AND A LOT OF THEIR STAFF ALSO HELP OUT AT THE SITES.
WE GET FUNDING. WE RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE IRS
THIS YEAR. WE ALSO RECEIVED FUNDING FROM
WELLS FARGO AND BANK OF AMERICA. AND THAT HELPS US PROMOTE THE
SERVICE, ADVERTISE IT, LET MORE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT, AND IT
ALSO HELPS US SAY THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS.
LAST YEAR, WE HAD A VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON AT SUNKEN GARDENS IN
ST. PETERSBURG WHERE ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL THE
DIFFERENT SITES GOT TO COME AND ENJOY LUNCH AND TOUR THE
GARDENS. THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG IS A
BIG SUPPORTER, THE CITY OF PINELLAS PARK.
THOSE TWO AND SAFETY HARBOR THIS YEAR, THEY ALLOW US TO SEND OUT
INFORMATION IN THE UTILITY BILLS.
A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS HELP US WITH THAT OUTREACH.
TAMPA BAY BEACHES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HELPS CONNECT US TO A
LOT OF THE BIG HOTELS AND RESORTS OUT ON THE BEACHES THAT
HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES THAT QUALIFY FOR THE EITC.
2-1-1 IS A BIG HELP. YEAH, I JUST CAN'T EVEN LIST ALL
THE PEOPLE WHO HELP MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
>>Frank: SURE. WELL, IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM,
AND, CLEARLY, IT HAS A BROAD BASE OF SUPPORT BECAUSE OF HOW
BENEFICIAL IT IS TO THE PINELLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.
NOW, IN ADDITION TO -- AND FAIRLY QUICKLY HERE -- THE
PINELLAS PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP NOT ONLY HELPS PEOPLE WITH THEIR
INCOME TAX FILING AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT YOU HAVE SOME OTHER
PROGRAMS THAT EDUCATE FOLKS HOW TO DO MORE WITH MONEY
MANAGEMENT. >>Eddie Burch: YEAH, WHAT WE
LIKE TO DO IS NOT JUST HELP PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, GET THE MOST
OF THE MONEY THEY CAN, BUT TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT.
AND WE WORKED WITH SEVERAL BANKS OVER THE PAST YEAR TO LAUNCH THE
BANK ON TAMPA BAY INITIATIVE. THE BANK ON TAMPA BAY INITIATIVE
IS BASICALLY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO HAVE A MAINSTREAM FINANCIAL
RELATIONSHIP. INSTEAD OF PAYING SOMEBODY TO
CASH YOUR CHECK, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT.
A LOT OF THE BANKS ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE
HAD SOME ISSUES IN THE PAST AND CAN GET A BANK ACCOUNT.
AND WE HAVE A FINANCIAL EDUCATION CALENDAR ON THE BANK
ON TAMPA BAY WEB SITE. THAT'S bankontb.com.
THAT CALENDAR HAS SOME LISTINGS OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS
THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. YOU CAN COME OUT AND LEARN ABOUT
A VARIETY OF THINGS FROM MORTGAGE HELP TO BASIC BANKING.
AND WE ALSO HAVE WHAT WE CALL INFORMALLY TAX TALKS WHERE WE
CAN GO OUT AND TALK FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES ABOUT THE EITC AND THE
VITA SERVICE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE.
SO, YEAH, WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO GET OUT THERE AND CONNECT PEOPLE
WITH MORE EDUCATION ABOUT FINANCIAL LITERACY.
>>Frank: THAT IS SO IMPORTANT, AGAIN, AT THE INDIVIDUAL
HOUSEHOLD LEVEL AS WELL AS IN OUR COMMUNITY LEVEL, BRINGING
THESE RESOURCES INTO THE COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED OVER $5 MILLION WERE BROUGHT INTO
PINELLAS COUNTY LAST YEAR, AND THAT MONEY IS SPENT WITH THE
BUSINESSES LOCALLY HERE, AND SO THERE IS AN ECONOMIC MULTIPLIER
FOR THE WHOLE AREA. SO IT IS AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL
PROGRAM, AND THE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY IS ALWAYS VERY, VERY
WILLING TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD. AND WE HOPE OUR LISTENERS ARE
GOING TO PARTICIPATE. WHY DON'T YOU, ONCE AGAIN, GIVE
US THE WEB SITES AND ANY PHONE NUMBERS THAT PEOPLE CAN CONTACT
TO GET INFORMATION. >>Eddie Burch: 2-1-1 IS THE BEST
PHONE NUMBER TO USE TO REACH US BY PHONE.
ASK THEM ABOUT VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE OR THE EARNED
INCOME TAX CREDIT OR BANK ON TAMPA BAY, AND THEY CAN CONNECT
WITH YOU THE INFORMATION. THE WEB SITE FOR THE VITA
SERVICE IS taxes-4-free.com. AND FOR THE BANKING INFORMATION,
IT'S bankontb.com. BUT THE taxes-4-free.com CAN
HELP YOU APPLY TO VOLUNTEER OR FIND INFORMATION ABOUT THE
SERVICES. >>Frank: WELL, IT IS A WONDERFUL
PROGRAM, AND WE ARE VERY, VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY.
WE SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM SO MUCH, I THINK WE'VE GOT YOU SCHEDULED
TO COME BACK IN HERE FOR OUR MARCH PROGRAM.
>>Eddie Burch: GREAT. >>Frank: THE JANUARY PROGRAM
LETS PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS, AND MARCH COMING JUST A SHORT TIME
BEFORE THE INCOME TAX DEADLINE, WE LIKE TO REITERATE AND GET
PEOPLE TO FOLLOW UP AGAIN. WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME, AND I
WOULD REALLY LIKE TO THANK OUR GUEST, EDDIE BURCH FROM THE
JUVENILE WELFARE BOARD AND THE PINELLAS PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP.
WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK PINELLAS COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT FOR HELPING US PRODUCE THIS SHOW AND, OF
COURSE, OUR FRIENDS AT WRXB 1590 AM RADIO.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE SHOW, CALL US AT
727-464-8210 OR E-MAIL US AT housingfinanceauthority@
pinellascounty.org. REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALSO CATCH
PAST SHOWS ON THE WEB SITE AND YOU CAN EVEN CATCH US ON
YouTube. BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN NEXT
MONTH. I'M FRANK BOWMAN.
THANKS FOR TUNING IN. AND REMEMBER,
"THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME."