Press Releases

LAST CHANCE – Don’t Miss This Opportunity for FREE Tax Preparation by IRS Trained and Certified Volunteers in Morris County
United Way of Morris County and NORWESCAP team up to ensure Morris County residents get the most of their tax returns

Morristown, NJ – With April 15, 2008 just around the corner, time is running out for eligible Morris County residents to cash in on their additional tax refund money for 2007 tax year. 

NORWESCAP and United Way of Morris County are teaming up to ensure that thousands of hard working residents get the optimal refund this year on their federal and state tax returns through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).  Each year millions of dollars go unclaimed because many working people simply do not know that they qualify for the credit.  United Way and a coalition of agencies, including the 2-1-1 Help Line, NORWESCAP, the IRS, and the New Jersey Department of Human Services, are working together to make sure people claim the EITC tax credit. 

Highly trained volunteers are available to offer free and safe tax preparation services at locations called Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Sites throughout Morris County.  These locations were established to ensure families receive all of their refund as opposed to the high commercial preparation fees or risks associated with "rapid refund" loans.  Sites are available in the following communities: 

Chatham
Chester
Dover
Jefferson
Lake Hiawatha
Long Hill Township
Morristown
Mt. Olive
Pompton Plains
Randolph Township
Rockaway Township
Whippany. 

United Way urges community members to dial 2-1-1 to find out more about EITC and the sites offering free preparation services.  Multilingual Help Line Specialists will assist callers in finding out whether they qualify for EITC benefits and directing them where to go for free tax preparation assistance. 

Working people can claim up to thousands of dollars in federal and state income tax benefits through this program.  The extra income from EITC – sometimes thousands of dollars – could build the financial assets of a family, and move them on a path to self-sufficiency.  A low-income family in New Jersey with two or more children could qualify for as much as $5,659 in federal and state tax credits for the 2007 tax year.  According to the federal government, the EITC lifts nearly four million people out of poverty each year. 

For more information about the EITC, please contact Melissa Wankmuller at United Way of Morris County email or  973.993.1160, x122.

About United Way of Morris County
United Way of Morris County is dedicated to helping people and improving the quality of life for all residents. We address issues most critical to the future of Morris County by bringing attention, expertise, and resources to them. For more information, visit us on the web at www.uwmorris.org, or call 973.993.1160.

About NORWESCAP
NORWESCAP is a non-profit community action agency established in 1965 that creates opportunities for over 30,000 low-income people in northwest New Jersey by providing a large portfolio of self-sufficiency and emergency services.  The mission of NORWESCAP is "Fighting Poverty.  Creating Opportunities.  Changing Lives."

About the 2-1-1 Help Line
2-1-1 is a statewide telephone number, where callers can obtain free, confidential assistance in finding information and resources to help them with common life problems.  The 2-1-1 Center is staffed by multilingual Helpline specialists working with a database of thousands of programs, organizations, services, and agencies.  The 2-1-1 initiative is sponsored in part by United Way.