NORWICH – On Friday afternoon, members of the Earned Income Tax Credit Partnership Committee attended a luncheon at the Chenango County Fairgrounds and discussed their results for the 2006 tax season.
The EITC committee is made up of volunteers from several local businesses and organizations who come together to offer free tax preparation services for those who qualify for the tax credit. The program, which started in 2004, filed only 193 returns in their first year. The number jumped to 305 returns in 2005, and this year, the EITC Partnership Committee filed 503 tax returns.
“That’s a huge jump. We did a tremendous job,” said United Way Executive Director and Chair of the County EITC Partnership Committee Elizabeth Monaco. “We brought $230,323 back to the community in Federal Earned Income Tax Credit alone, and a total of $610,748 in total refunds,” Monaco explained.
Since 2004, the EITC Partnership has increased publicity for the program and increased the number of partnering organizations involved in the program. For the 2006 tax season, organizations involved included the Chenango County United Way, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Opportunities for Chenango, Colgate University, the Internal Revenue Service, the American Association of Retired Persons, GHS Credit Union, NBT Bank, Partners Trust Bank, SUNY Morrisville, Chenango County Department of Social Services and the Chenango County Farm Bureau.
“We couldn’t have done it without everyone at the table,” said Monaco. “I look forward to working with all of you wonderful people again in the future.”
In addition to recognizing all of the organization’s involved, Monaco also recognized the work of several individuals, whose efforts made the program successful.
Two representatives from the IRS were also at the luncheon to thank the organizations for their participation and to recognize individual efforts. “We wanted to say thank you. Without the participation of all of the volunteers, we wouldn’t have these wonderful results,” said IRS Representative Shelly Willette
Fellow IRS Representative Joanne Passineau agreed, saying, “Chenango County is the best. You’ve got it together,”
The IRS representatives recognized many of the volunteers and explained the role that Colgate and Morrisville students play in the program. The students volunteer their time to learn the tax program and commute to various sites to help with tax preparation. “This wouldn’t be possible without the students. They do a lot for the community,” Willette explained, but she pointed out that everyone plays an important role. “This is a collaborative effort, and we thank all of you,” she said.
Monaco concluded the presentation by thanking the volunteers once again. “Our biggest challenge is recruiting enough volunteers to make this possible,” she said, encouraging all of the volunteers to encourage friends and co-workers to join for the 2007 tax season.