- State tax credit for the working poor in heavy demand, By Keith M. Phaneuf, February 13, 2012, Connecticut Mirror: “More than 70,000 Connecticut households took advantage of a new tax credit for the working poor during just the first month of state income tax filings, according to the Department of Revenue Services. The claims filed under the new state Earned Income Tax Credit were hailed both by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration and a leading private, nonprofit anti-poverty group as evidence of the new program’s necessity as well as its success…”
- Tax refund is vital chunk of annual budget for many people, By Susan Tompor, February 9, 2012, Detroit Free Press: “For Ola Jones, 53, her federal income tax refund typically amounts to more than an extra paycheck each year. It’s a vital part of her annual budget and a way to cover extra bills and necessities. ‘Right now, I need a washing machine and tires for my car,’ said Jones, who stood in line one snowy Saturday morning in late January to obtain free tax-preparation help at Focus: HOPE in Detroit. Her daughter, Tujuana Jones, 19, also received free tax-preparation help, offered that day by volunteers from the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants. The student, who attends Wayne County Community College District and works at Rainbow Clothing in Detroit, planned to go shopping with her $500 tax refund. For lower-income families, the tax season kickoff is a time to catch up with bills and rebuild some savings. The federal earned income tax credit and other Michigan-related tax credits offer a powerful punch for limited budgets…”
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty