OUTREACH CAMPAIGN GENERATES $13 MILLION FOR OVER 10,500 WORKING DELAWAREANS
Wilmington, DE - Delaware State Treasurer Jack Markell joined with Delaware State Senator Margaret Rose Henry and Mary Dupont, Executive Director of Wilmington's Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation to announce that the fifth annual Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) campaign generated $13 million for 10,518 working Delawareans, a significant increase over last year.
"I'm delighted to announce that the 2005 EITC campaign has put more than $13 million back where it belongs -- into the pockets of working Delawareans," Mr. Markell stated. "This federal tax credit is widely regarded as our nation's most effective program at lifting working families out of poverty. The net effect that is if a worker makes $7.00 per hour and claims the full credit, that it essentially increases their hourly wage to $9.00, and that increase can and does make a real difference in people's lives."
The EITC Campaign which is coordinated by Wilmington-based Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation is supported by a wide coalition of community, business, and faith based organizations, promotes work by increasing the incomes of low-wage workers through a refundable tax credit. The EITC is available to families with incomes below $40,000 and to single, childless workers making less than $12,000. The refundable credit can total up to about $4,400 annually, depending on income and the number of children in the family.
More than 300 volunteers at 23 locations across Delaware volunteered long hours to prepare the taxes and to link those eligible to other services such as financial education, access to low-cost loans for automobiles, matched savings accounts and many other services.
"Our volunteer preparers were consistently amazing! They were there each week working hard to make sure that those coming to have their taxes prepared received every benefit they were eligible for," Mrs. Dupont said. "We couldn't have done it without the dedication of our talented volunteers. All of this is only possible because of them and their commitment to their fellow citizens."
State Senator Margaret Rose Henry, long-time advocate of a State version of the EITC added, "We are really committed to helping working families and that's why we believe so strongly in the EITC campaign. Personally I can't wait for next tax season when Delaware taxpayers will be able to take advantage of the new State EITC that was signed into law in 2005!"
The State EITC creates a credit equaling 20% of the federal EITC. Officials project that 14,000 low-income Delaware taxpayers will no longer pay state income taxes and another 14,000 will pay less in taxes. Delaware was the only state to establish an EITC in 2005.
To learn more about the EITC or to become a volunteer for next tax season's campaign, please call the Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation at 302/655-0803.
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