Sample Press Release

For Immediate Release: Jan. 27, 2012

Contact:

TAX CREDITS FOR WORKING FAMILIES

COULD BE WORTH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS

___ Is Spreading the Word So That Eligible Families Don’t Miss Out On Tax Credits

(Your State)  [Your organization] is working with the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) to launch a tax credits outreach campaign today to ensure that low- and moderate-income families are aware of and claim available federal and state income tax credits.

“Eligible families could receive thousands of dollars from federal and state tax credits this year,” said [representative from your organization]. “Families are facing incredible economic pressures, and can’t afford to leave this money on the table.”

Federal and state tax credits can help offset the cost of child care and other expenses for working families.  For 2011, families may be eligible for a number of federal tax credits, including:

• Earned Income Tax Credit, which helps provide a wage supplement for low and moderate-income families (those earning less than $49,078 annually).  This credit is worth up to $5,751, and is refundable.
• Child Tax Credit, designed to help families offset some of the costs of raising children. This credit is worth up to $1,000 per child. Families who owe little or no income tax can receive some or all of this credit as a refund if they earned at least $3,000 in 2011.
• Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, designed to offset some of the child or dependent care costs that families incur in order to work. This credit is worth up to $2,100, though the amount that can be claimed is limited by a family’s federal income tax liability.

[If your state has its own tax credits add info here]

“These credits can help families in [your state] make ends meet, but they must file a tax return to claim the credits,” [representative from your organization] said. “Our goal is to help more families learn about the benefits of these tax credits, so they don’t miss out.”

As part of the NWLC campaign, state child care organizations, social service providers, and advocates will work to educate families about valuable federal and state tax benefits as well as the availability of free tax preparation assistance in their communities. The launch of the campaign coincides with Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day, an effort of the Internal Revenue Service to inform the public about the Earned Income Tax Credit and the requirements to claim the credit.

NWLC has developed an online resource for parents and advocates with user-friendly fliers about both the federal credits and individual states’ tax provisions. Materials are available in Spanish and other languages. To learn more about federal and state tax credits, visit www.nwlc.org/LowerYourTaxes.

###

The National Women's Law Center is a non-profit organization that has been working since 1972 to advance and protect women's legal rights.  The Center focuses on major policy areas of importance to women and their families including economic security, education, employment and health, with special attention given to the concerns of low-income women.  For more information on the Center, visit:  www.nwlc.org.

Document(s):

Sample Press Release