Updated January 23, 2020
Tax season is here. The Center for Financial Empowerment wants to inform Los Angeles County consumers about costly tax-time financial products and promote free tax preparation services.
The Earned Income Tax Credit and VITA is connected with the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs’ larger efforts to curb the impact of high-cost loans in Los Angeles County.
We encourage you to share the messages and images in this social media toolkit with your followers to help consumers make better choices as they file their income taxes this year.
We recommend sharing at least one of these posts a week, to help consumers around Los Angeles County know the resources available to them.
The toolkit includes information about:
- National EITC Awareness Day
- Refund Anticipation Loans and Checks
- Earned Income Tax Credit (Federal and State) awareness
- VITA/FreeTaxPrepLA.com awareness
- BankOn Los Angeles County awareness
NATIONAL EITC AWARENESS DAY
National EITC Awareness Day is Friday, January 31. We want all L.A. County taxpayers to know about the credit to help spread the word.
Sample Messages:
Today is #EITCAwarenessDay! Help get the word out by giving us a like, share, or comment. Tell your friends about #EITC and free tax services.
Almost $10 billion in #EITC benefits weren’t claimed last year. Are you losing out on money you’ve worked hard to earn? Check to see if you qualify! www.freetaxprepla.com #EITCAwarenessDay #FreeTaxPrepLA
Did you know #Free tax help is available for qualified #taxpayers through #VITA sites? Use this #VITA locator tool to find a provider near you. www.freetaxprepla.com #EITCAwarenessDay
REFUND ANTICIPATION LOANS/CHECKS
Sample Messages:
“Get your tax refund fast” is marketing bait. Refund anticipation loans and “instant refund offers” come with high interest rates and costly fees. Wait for your #tax refund and keep ALL of your money instead. See if you qualify for free tax preparation at FreeTaxPrepLA.com. #FTPLA
Why pay for a loan against yourself, when you can get ALL YOUR MONEY yourself! Avoid instant tax loans. It’s your choice: free or fees. Try FreeTaxPrepLA.com.
Instant #tax refund offers have expensive fees that take out a big chunk of your tax return.
Take the free option instead. E-file your taxes yourself or see if you qualify for free help: FreeTaxPrepLA.com.
Taxpayers who use “instant” tax refund services spend $200 million in extra fees every year. Fast refund loans cost you money. Plan ahead, e-file your taxes for free, or get free tax prep and keep ALL of your money! Try FreeTaxPrepLA.com.
File your taxes early and avoid instant #tax refund loans! Keep ALL of your money! You earned it. FreeTaxPrepLA.com.
Sample Images:
EARNED INCOME, CALIFORNIA EARNED INCOME, AND YOUNG CHILD TAX CREDITS
Sample Messages:
The Earned Income Tax Credit helps millions of hard-working Americans claim more of what they earn each year. See if you qualify for #EITC and share the information with your #tax preparer. caleitc4me.org/know-it/.
The California Earned Income Tax Credit can help you claim more of the money you earn each year. See if you qualify for #CalEITC and share the information with your #tax preparer. caleitc4me.org/know-it/.
Have you heard? California has a new Young Child Tax Credit. Working parents become eligible with their first dollar of earned income. Make sure to find out if you qualify, and file for FREE: caleitc4me.org/ #CalEITC #TaxSeason
Are you eligible for a cashback refund through the #CalEITC? For the first time this year, all workers over age 18 who made less than $30,000 are eligible. Find out if you qualify, and learn where to get FREE tax prep services: caleitc4me.org/
Sample Images:
For additional messages and images from CalEITC4Me and Golden State Opportunity, check their digital toolkit: caleitc4me.org/helpful-materials/
VITA/FREETAXPREPLA.COM
Sample Messages:
Did you know that if you made less than $56,000 last year, you qualify for free #tax preparation? To see if you qualify and to make an appointment at a location near you visit FreeTaxPrepLA.com.
The #VITA program turns out happy clients. Getting your taxes done with us is simple. #FTPLA
#VITA stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. All our volunteers are IRS-certified so you can be sure will be file accurately.
Sample Images:
BANK ON
Sample Message:
A bank account that supports direct deposit is the fastest way to get your #tax refund. Visit BankOn for a list of safe and affordable bank accounts. dcba.lacounty.gov/bankon/.
Sample Images:
En Español
Expertos financieros están de acuerdo: prestamos anticipados de reembolso y reembolso de impuestos instantáneo le costara dinero. En lugar, quédese con TODO su dinero. Se lo ha ganado. Quiere saber si califica para preparación de impuestos gratuita, visite FreeTaxPrepLA.com.
El Crédito Tributario por Ingreso del Trabajo de California ayuda a millones de familias e individuos que trabajan, personas de la tercera edad y trabajadores autónomos a recibir más dinero cada año. Visite caleitc4me.org/know-it/.
Si usted gano menos de $56,000 el año pasado, puede que sea elegible para recibir ayuda gratuita con su preparación de #impuestos. Para saber si es elegible y hacer una cita en un centro cerca de usted, visite FreeTaxPrepLA.com.
Una cuenta bancaria que admite depósito directo es la opción mas rápida para recibir su reembolso de #impuestos. Obtenga más información sobre el programa de BankOn y obtenga una lista de cuentas bancarias que son seguras y económicas para usted. Visite dcba.lacounty.gov/bankon/.
