Rain and Snow Do Not Hold Back D.C. Residents from Norton’s Tax and Financial Services Fair

WASHINGTON, DC – The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that 120 D.C. residents had their taxes prepared for free at the Congresswoman's annual Tax and Financial Services Fair, notwithstanding the rain and snow that came this morning. Attendees ranged in age, and included a couple with a 16-week-old baby. Norton's Fair featured tax preparers who serve on Norton's Congressional Tax and Financial Services Advisory Committee, whose services are available throughout tax season, until April 15. The Fair offered not only tax preparation, but also financial services, including information on the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program, college savings plans, asset building and signing up for credit unions.

"Inclement weather did not keep D.C. residents from our one-day Tax Fair," said Norton. "Residents of all ages took advantage of the free tax preparation and financial services. Fortunately, the same six Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites that prepared taxes today and others like them will be providing free tax preparation services until April 15 throughout the city. I am particularly grateful to the VITA site volunteers who weathered the storm – all volunteers, all experts. I thank the financial services providers whose information and on-the-spot services are also critical to our residents."

Norton said she was grateful to Solomon Keene, President of the Hotel Association of Washington, D.C., and Teresa Hinze, Executive Director of Community Tax Aid, who gave remarks to the attendees, along with her. Keene spoke strongly in favor of the potential benefit to D.C. businesses of Norton's pending bill that would give employers a $5,000 tax credit against the payroll tax liability for each new net person hired who has been unemployed for 27 weeks. The bill would encourage employers to hire the long-term unemployed. who are in crisis numbers, already at about 40% of all unemployed Americans. Keene's remarks showed the strong link between the District's hospitality industry and jobs for D.C. residents. Hinze elaborated on the services tax preparers provide in D.C. neighborhoods.

Also in attendance were university preparers and tax clinics (American University, the University of the District (UDC) of Columbia School of Business and the UDC Law School Low Income Tax Clinic), city-wide sites (Community Tax Aid, which has nine sites across the city, the D.C. Government Employees Federal Credit Union, which has three sites around the city), and the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue, which prepared city tax returns. MyFreeTaxes.com helped residents who wanted to learn to prepare their own taxes with a coach.

Also present was a VITA site that works in conjunction with the Congresswoman's office and will continue to offer services at Mathew Memorial Baptist Church until April 15, by appointment only (call Jackie Pelt – 202.207.8829).

Published: February 15, 2014