Hundreds Get Free Tax Help at Norton Tax Fair - 2/12/2007

Hundreds Get Free Tax Help at Norton Tax Fair Several Get Free HIV Tests Along with Norton Staff
February 12, 2007

Washington, DC—The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that more than 500 D.C. residents got their taxes done or received tax information at the 7th annual Norton Tax Preparation and Information Fair on Saturday, February 10 at the Washington Convention Center. The Tax Fair is free to D.C. residents, “the only American citizens who pay taxes without representation,” Norton said. She is still urging D.C. residents to seek free tax preparation, including electronic filing, at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites at www.irs.gov or https://www.dceitc.org/ , and through service agencies such as the AARP, rather than use commercial preparers that charge exorbitantly high interest and fees. D.C. Residents can call 202-463-6211 to find free tax help. Out of concern about the lack of free tax preparation in Southeast Washington, Norton is planning to set up a VITA site in her District Office on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue for the next tax season.

In addition to getting their taxes done, 40 people took a free, confidential HIV test that Norton made available Saturday. She will offer free tests at her events to stress the importance of universal testing and to jump-start the city’s efforts to attack the HIV/AIDS epidemic. D.C. has the highest rate in the nation. Following Norton’s example of getting a test in September on Capitol Hill (See www.norton.house.gov), members of Norton’s staff also got tested at the tax fair.

Norton expressed her appreciation to D.C. Health Department professionals that administered the HIV tests, and to more than 90 tax preparers from the IRS, D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue and volunteer agencies.