(Miami, Florida)— January 19, 2006 – City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz will launch the City’s 2006 EITC and free tax preparation campaign at a press conference on Tuesday, January 31, 11:00 a.m., at the Corpus Christi Community Service Center, 730 NW 34 Street.

Corpus Christi is one of 15 City-sponsored locations offering free tax preparation services as part of this year’s campaign, with services provided from January 24th through April 8th. Eligible residents could qualify to receive a federal income tax refund of up to $4,400 via the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and up to an additional $1,000 per child via the Child Tax Credit (CTC).

EITC tax credits can result in sizable refunds for low-income working families and help millions of individuals out of poverty nationwide. Each year, thousands of eligible households in the City of Miami fail to claim this entitlement, leaving millions of dollars worth of EITC benefits unclaimed. The City’s campaign last year proved its most successful to date, assisting approximately 9,200 low- to moderate-income residents with free or low-cost tax preparation services, saving them close to $800,000 in tax preparation fees, and accounting for just over $20 million in total refunds.

Partners in the 2006 campaign include the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), The Benefit Bank, the Human Services Coalition of Dade County, Inc., and the City’s Community Development and Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET) departments. The City is also proud to renew its partnership this year with H & R Block to offer discounted tax preparation to City residents at 16 H&R Block locations City-wide. Residents interested in scheduling a tax preparation appointment at one of the City-sponsored sites, or City-affiliated H&R Block sites, can call 311 or 305-649-1313.

WHO: Mayor Manny Diaz, representatives of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and H&R 
          Block. Plus, City residents who have prepared their taxes at a City-sponsored
          location in the past.

WHAT:  A press conference to kick off the City of Miami’s 2006 EITC and free tax     
             preparation campaign.
 
WHEN:   Tuesday, January 31, 2006, 11:00 a.m.
 
WHERE: Corpus Christi Community Center, 730 NW 34 Street

                                                     # # #

OTHER: For additional details on the campaign, please call 305-416-2096.

The City of Miami’s FREE tax preparation sites (2006) are listed below. Residents are encouraged to call 311 to schedule an appointment.

Super Sites (run in cooperation with the IRS):
Hours of Operation: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 6-9 p.m.
Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
 
Orange Bowl                                                Corpus Christi Church Community Center
Athletic Club, Second Floor                                                               730 NW 34th Street
1501 NW 3rd Street
 

 
NET Offices (in cooperation with The Benefit Bank):
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5 p.m.
 
Allapattah NET
Curtis Park
1901 NW 24th Avenue
Miami, Florida 33142
 
North/East Coconut Grove NET
Peacock Park
2820 McFarlane Road
Coconut Grove, Florida 33133
 
South/West Coconut Grove NET
3692-B Grand Avenue
Coconut Grove, Florida 33133
 
Coral Way NET
1300 SW 12th Avenue
Miami, Florida 33129
 
Downtown NET
10 NE 9th Street
Miami, Florida 33136
 
Flagami NET
Central Shopping Plaza (Rear)
3802 NW 11th Street
Miami, Florida 33126
 
Little Haiti NET
6421 NE 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33138
 
Little Havana NET
Warner House
111 SW 5th Avenue
Miami, Florida 33131

Model City NET
North District Police Station
1000 NW 62 Street
Miami, FL 33130
 
Overtown NET
Overtown Shopping Center
1490 NW 3rd Avenue
Miami, Florida 33136
 
Upper Eastside NET
6599 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33138

West Flagler NET
4343 West Flagler Street
Suite 102
Miami, Florida 33134

Wynwood/Edgewater NET
Roberto Clemente Park
101 NW 34th Street
Miami, Florida 33127