The event, hosted by Jeffery Johnson, chair of the Montgomery County Community Action Board, included remarks from Montgomery County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz, DHHS Director James Bridgers, Community Action Agency Executive Director Shantá Johnson, a Community Action Agency VITA volunteer and a VITA client. Anthony Featherstone, executive director of WorkSource Montgomery, welcomed guests and Doug O’Donnell, deputy commissioner of services and enforcement for the Internal Revenue Service also gave remarks. Representatives from AARP, CASA, the Equity Center, CASH Campaign of Maryland, the Gaithersburg Financial Empowerment Center and United Way were in attendance.

“Research has shown time and again that the EITC is one of the best tools available to reduce poverty and help move lower-income taxpayers toward the Self-Sufficiency Standard,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Here in Montgomery County, we are fortunate to have the federal and state EITC, along with the County’s Working Families Income Supplement, available to residents who are struggling to make ends meet. I encourage everyone to file their taxes and for those who are eligible, to make an appointment with our County’s free tax help VITA sites.” 

EITC Awareness Day is a great opportunity to highlight the Federal and State Earned Income Tax Credits, Child Tax Credit and the County’s Working Families Income Supplement (WFIS). These credits provide thousands of dollars in financial support to low-income households, allowing families the flexibility to pay for necessities, reduce their debts or set aside savings for emergency expenses. 

“The County Council has been a staunch supporter of EITC over the years, especially the County EITC,” said Councilmember Gabe Albornoz, chair of the Health and Human Services Committee. “As one of the few counties in the country with a local EITC, Montgomery County residents get an additional 56 percent of the State Refundable EIC amount for the current tax year. Research has found that increasing the income of low-income families when a child is young tends to improve a child’s immediate well-being, as well as positive long-term effects such as better health and higher earnings in adulthood. I applaud the great work the Community Action Agency has done for Montgomery County residents with EITC and other critical anti-poverty programs.” 

The Maryland EITC was recently expanded and is now a 45 percent match of the federal EITC for tax filers claiming dependents, and a 100 percent match of the federal EITC for single filers without dependents. This year’s event also highlighted the eligibility of Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) taxpayers for both the state credit and the County’s WFIS. The WFIS makes Montgomery County one of only a few local jurisdictions with its own supplement to the state EITC.

“The City of Gaithersburg is honored to participate in the Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day,” said Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman. “This program is vital because it not only provides a tangible benefit for our residents, but it also contributes to the financial stability of our entire community.”

The Montgomery County VITA Partnership, organized by the Community Action Agency, delivers free tax preparation services to County residents with household incomes of $64,000 or less, with IRS-certified preparers assisting taxpayers. The AARP program also assists residents with higher incomes. All VITA programs serve tax filers using an ITIN and the Community Action and CASA VITA sites offer help with ITIN applications. Information about Montgomery County VITA sites, tax credits and appointments is available at montgomerycountymd.gov/CASHBACK or by calling 311.

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