Norton to Host Free Annual Tax Preparation and Financial Services Fair for D.C. Residents and Press Conference on Critical IRS Issues, Saturday

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will host her 15th annual Tax Preparation and Financial Services Fair for District of Columbia residents on Saturday, February 21, 2015, from 10:00 a.m. -- noon at the Washington Convention Center (801 Mt. Vernon Place NW). Low and moderate-income D.C. residents (household income less than $60,000/year) will be able to have their taxes prepared free of charge by local IRS-certified experts. In addition, residents can receive free valuable financial services, regardless of income, on housing, credit, mortgages, D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program, and other services. Credit unions will be on hand to help residents open a bank account with a minimum deposit of $5.

"This year there are urgent tax issues for D.C. residents that we will discuss at the press conference," Norton said. "This year's Fair is particularly important to help residents get their taxes done and their tax questions answered because budget cuts have curtailed free advice and counsel from the IRS."

At 11:00 a.m., Norton will hold a press conference with Capital Area Asset Builders' (CAAB) Executive Director Rich Petersen, a representative from the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service and D.C. resident Camille Saunders to discuss emerging tax issues important to D.C. residents. Norton and Petersen will urge D.C. residents to take full advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a benefit for working people who have low to moderate-income. Norton is particularly concerned that many residents in Wards 5, 7, and 8 who are eligible have not used the EITC. According to CAAB, as many as 11,000 eligible low-wage D.C. residents are not claiming the EITC. Saunders will share how the EITC was a critical benefit for her and her family. Norton will also raise concerns about the dramatic impact of deep budget cuts to the IRS, which will result in delayed refunds and longer wait times for free IRS consultation. D.C. residents are advised to attend Saturday's Tax Fair so they can complete their taxes as soon as possible, and especially before April 15; the IRS has announced that following that deadline, free advice and resources will not be available.

The local tax preparers participating in the Fair will also be preparing taxes in D.C. neighborhoods until April 15. They are: Community Tax Aid, D.C. Employees Federal Credit Union, D.C. Office of Tax & Revenue, George Washington University Law School, My Free Taxes, UDC School of Business, Janet R. Spragans Federal Tax Clinic, Taxpayer Advocate Service, and UDC Low Income Tax Clinic.

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