With the annual tax season upon us, local partners are coming together to host free tax preparation sites that will allow low-to-moderate income residents to get tax credits they deserve, and put more money into their pockets.

In the Spring of 2011, Judy Brooks of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in Chicago approached Kishwaukee United Way and other community organizations about coming together to assist families in DeKalb County. The IRS’s goal was to increase the number of people eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in DeKalb County. Each year, hundreds of residents miss out on funds that are due to them as a part of their tax return. As a result of the IRS outreach, the DeKalb County CA$H Coalition was formed. The acronym, CA$H stand for “Creating Assets, Savings and Hope”. The group’s mission is to provide educational tools and community resources for family asset development through the claiming of tax credits, quality volunteer tax return preparation, and other asset building options. Members of this coalition include Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois, Kishwaukee United Way, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Northern Illinois University’s College of Business, and DeKalb County Community Services (more…) Read More...