ACR 149, as amended, Gipson. Taxation.
This measure would encourage state entities to identify and utilize existing and potential public or private partnerships to inform citizens and employees about the availability of the federalbegin insert and stateend insert Earned Income Tax Credit and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs, as specified.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, Each year, Californians volunteer their time to
2participate in the federal Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
3program and are trained by public and private partnerships with
4the Internal Revenue Service to prepare tax returns; and
5WHEREAS, VITA is a free tax preparation program that helps
6low- to moderate-income filers. During tax season, there are free
7sites accessible across the nation; and
8WHEREAS, Insufficient income contributes to many of the
9social and human service needs in our state; and
10WHEREAS, Increasingbegin insert federal and stateend insert Earned Income Tax
11Credit (EITC) capture through the VITA program represents a
12highly cost-effective economic development strategy; and
P2 1WHEREAS, Each year, as a result of the VITA program, the
2EITC helps approximately 285,000 low-income households in
3California and brings more than $347 million into California’s
4economy; and
5WHEREAS, The Internal Revenue Service and other
6organizations collaborate with local agencies to offer VITA to
7raise awareness of thebegin insert federal and stateend insert EITC; and
8WHEREAS, Local colleges throughout California serve as
9instrumental partners of the VITA program, and create ideal and
10accessible locations for surrounding community residents to receive
11free tax assistance and family resource services; and
12WHEREAS, These colleges generously provide the use of their
13campus facilities, equipment, and student volunteers - who make
14up a significant portion of trained and certified tax preparers for
15VITA events - to enable the success of the VITA program; now,
16therefore, be it
17Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
18thereof concurring, That the Legislature joins the Controller’s
19office, the State Board of Equalization, the Franchise Tax Board,
20and the Internal Revenue Service in promoting thebegin insert federal and
21stateend insert EITC and VITA programs to qualified families and
22individuals; and be it further
23Resolved, That the Legislature encourages each state entity to
24identify and utilize existing and potential public or private
25partnerships to inform citizens about the availability of the federal
26and state EITC and VITA programs; and be it further
27Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
28of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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