HOUSTON – Novmember 18, 2006 Working families making less than $39,000 may receive tax preparation assistance at one of 27 sites sponsored by Houston Asset Building Coalition, in various parts of Harris County. Most of the sites will be opening Feb. 1 and some offer assistance in other languages.

"Some families may not think they should file income taxes, but they may be eligible for the earned income tax credit and the child tax credits that possibly return more to them than has been withheld," said Sarah Moore Kern, program director.

"The Earned Income Tax Credit can mean up to $4,300 additional money per household-more than 10 percent for some families. This kind of money will make a huge difference in the lives of these individuals," Kern said. The money may be invested in a home, used to pay off debt and divided among different bank accounts so that some can be saved and some invested, she explained.

Those seeking tax preparation assistance should bring a valid picture identification, Social Security or Taxpayer ID card or copy for each individual on the return, birthdates of all individuals on the return, all Form W-2s and 1099s, all other income information, proof of all deductions such as receipts, last year's tax return and a voided check showing bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit of any refunds. Students will need to bring proof of tuition, books and scholarships.

Representatives from Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, First Convenience Bank, Bank of Texas, Amegy Bank, Washington Mutual and Frost Bank will be at selected locations to help those open accounts who do not have them.



Sites committed for 2007 include core locations at Lakewood Church, 3700 Southwest Freeway; Inwood North Community Outreach Program (INCOP), 5400 West Mount Houston; Shrine of the Black Madonna, 5309 Martin Luther King Blvd.; Fountain of Praise Church, 13525 S. Post Oak Road, and Memorial Assistance Ministries, 1525 Blalock in Spring Branch. For other locations, please visit a href="http://www.houstonassetbuilding.org"target="_blank">www.houstonassetbuilding.org.

During the 2006 tax preparation season, more than $9 million was returned to Houston taxpayers and the Houston economy through the HABC tax preparation program. Those assisted received $3,309,296 through the earned income tax credit and $1,846,869 in tax refunds through the child tax credit as a result of the program. Volunteers with Houston Asset Building Coalition prepared more than 7,990 tax returns for free at various locations throughout the city in 2006.

HABC hopes to serve 3,500 more taxpayers than were provided free tax services this year, and we will need the help of those who employ these individuals to bring that money back to Houston.

Houston Asset Building Coalition

Houston Asset Building Coalition is a partnership of the City of Houston Mayor's Citizens' Assistance Office, the Internal Revenue Service, financial institutions, government agencies, community-based organizations and faith-based organizations that works to help families keep their earned money by spending and saving wisely. Founded in August 2002, HABC's fiscal agent, Covenant Community Capital, is a nonprofit organization launched by a grant from Houston Endowment and supported by grants and private support. For more information on HABC, please visit www.houstonassetbuilding.org.