Norton's Tax Fair Press Conference to Feature Residents Benefiting from New Tax Credits

Norton's Tax and Financial Services Fair Press Conference to Feature Residents Benefitting from New Tax Credits and Experts Exposing New Consumer Risks

WASHINGTON, DC - At an 11 a.m. press conference during her free Annual Tax Fair, which this year features across-the-board financial services, Saturday, Feb. 27, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. at the Washington Convention Center, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will be joined by Rosie Hyde Givens and Gloria Madden, District residents who have benefitted from tax breaks Norton secured and from new tax credits in the stimulus bill, and by Chase Weir, CEO, Distributed Sun, a D.C. start-up greening business that recently hired District residents and applied for stimulus funds. Two experts will bring warnings of special risks to consumers this tax season: Rebecca Mack-Johnson, director, Strategy and Finance, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), will give information on a new IRS initiative to crack down on unqualified tax preparers and unscrupulous tax preparation companies; and Lori Jankalski, executive vice president, Consumer Credit Counseling Services, Inc., will explain new credit card charges, and speak about credit counseling services to be offered at the Fair.

"This year's Fair is greatly expanded to offer an across-the-board financial service package to help residents get through the deepest of recessions," Norton said. "Besides tax preparation experts, residents will get the opportunity to open a credit union checking account with a $5 deposit with one of the many credit unions that will be on hand," she said. "New tax credits mean more money for residents from the government; new problems generated by the recession yield a greater need for help; and new tax and financial scams have popped up everywhere."

The Fair is open to D.C. residents only. Residents must bring D.C. identification.