As many of you know, every year DPA launches an EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) campaign to help raise awareness of the benefits of the EITC as well as the Advance EITC. As in the past, we will once again focus our marketing efforts toward informing Public Assistance recipients of tax credit opportunities.---
Here is a brief summary of the Division's campaign activities for 2003:
New to this year’s campaign effort, will be the On-Line Tax Filing system.
On January 27th and 28th, the IRS provided On-Line Tax Filing training to representatives
from Ninestar, UAA, and CITC. Once the training was completed, the representatives
began offering FREE On-Line Tax Filing classes to all clients who wanted to
take advantage of the opportunity. Clientele attending these classes complete
and file their own taxes with the guidance of the trainers. Please assist in
sharing this exciting opportunity with clientele. If you need more information
regarding this service, please contact Terri Gagne at Terri_Gagne@health.state.ak.us.
- An EITC newsletter has been developed and distributed to all DPA staff
and partner agencies. - EITC and AEITC brochures have been distributed to all DPA staff and partner
agencies. - DPA’s website (<http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dpa/>) as well as
the IVR system, has been updated. - EITC advertising messages will again be aired on several local radio stations.
- EITC advertisements will be displayed prior to movies in the Anchorage,
Wasilla, Kenai, and Fairbanks theatres. - q EITC advertisements will be displayed on city buses throughout Anchorage,
Juneau and Fairbanks. - EITC advertisements will be posted in numerous newspapers around the state.
All advertising will again direct people to the DHSS website and our IVR system.
EITC has many benefits. It can make a real difference in the lives of our clients,
as long as they know that it is available to them and understand how to get
it. In the next few weeks, all district offices will receive a packet from Field
Services Unit containing EITC materials. Whether you spend a few minutes to
talk to your clients about EITC, put up a poster, or handout a brochure, your
work can impact the success of the campaign. We appreciate your participation
in this important effort. If you have any questions, you may contact Terri Gagne
at 269-7877, or send her an email at Terri_Gagne@health.state.ak.us
.