New Tax and Financial Information Available at Norton's Annual Tax Fair, Saturday
New Tax and Financial Information Available at Norton's Annual Tax and Financial Services Fair, Saturday
February 25, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC -- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will hold a press conference at 10:45 a.m. in room 144-A during her 11th Annual Tax and Financial Services Fair, Saturday, February 26, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Washington Convention Center. At the press conference, David Street, a $5,000 D.C. homebuyer tax credit recipient, will discuss the recently renewed credit, available only to D.C. residents, that Norton got through the lame-duck session to help residents benefit from unusually low home prices and interest rates. Christina Brooking, a Howard University graduate who received the Hope & Lifetime Learning Educational Tax Credit, will speak about how the credit, which Congress has recently renewed and expanded, can help college students during this tough economy. Robin Westbrook, the Local Taxpayer Advocate, will inform residents of some, perhaps surprising, assistance the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers to assist people having trouble paying their taxes.
More than 120 tax professionals from the IRS and the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue will provide free tax preparation services to D.C. residents who file basic tax returns. Forty tax preparation stations will be onsite to help expedite electronic filing.
Norton expanded the Tax Fair several years ago to include a variety of financial services and information residents most desire, such as low-cost credit union banking and loans instead of check cashing and rapid refund loans where cost and interest is often exorbitant. In addition to credit union representatives, experts will be on hand to help residents access the $5,000 D.C. homebuyer credit, DCTAG, the DC College Savings Plan, education grants, identity theft prevention, and housing, mortgage and credit counseling.
Participants are asked to bring a photo id, W-2, 1098 and 1099, itemized deductions, 2009 tax returns, homebuyer settlement statements, and a blank check for direct deposit. Testing for HIV/AIDS will also be available, as at all Norton events.
"The economic crisis has left residents scrambling to save more of their money by giving less of it to the IRS, and getting more money from the federal government," said Norton. "This free tax and financial services fair will do just that by providing residents with vital information on tax credits, tax savings and by providing counseling on critical financial matters."