Florida Nonprofits Help Working Families During Tax Season

MIAMI__For employers with large numbers of low-wage workers, tax season can actually be good for their workforce and for business.

Sure, the time between mid-January and April 15 means a mad scramble to gather receipts, document expenses and figure out complicated forms. But employers across the state are finding out that by simply passing along details about free tax preparation and existing benefits like the Earned Income Tax Credit they build employee loyalty without adding to the bottom line.

“We need to proactively meet their needs because they work a lot of hours, and on weekends too,” said Annie Borges, the director of human resources for Doral Golf Resort & Spa west of Miami , who consults with a local nonprofit about free community services. “We bring in the experts and make sure they have the latest information.”

During tax time, a coalition of organizations from Miami to Jacksonville called the Florida Prosperity Campaign focuses on helping businesses promote free tax preparation and existing economic benefits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Childcare Tax Credit in the workplace.

Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties , for example, offers dozens of free tax preparation sites. In Miami-Dade County , the Human Services Coalition’s Prosperity Campaign has 10 Prosperity Centers where free tax prep is just one of the free financial programs available to low-wage workers.

In Broward, the Children Services Council has a mobile van that tours the community offering free tax preparation, and some financial literacy counseling too boot.

These free services have become a critical part of HR outreach at the Doral resort. There the HR staff promotes these free services using payroll stuffers, email blasts, bulletin board announcements and newsletter updates in the Doral Daily News, an employee publication.

“By the time [tax season] arrives, our employees knows that to bring and are well prepared,” Borges said. “They don’t have to pay anything and we make sure they get the information they need first hand.”

Through the Florida Prosperity Campaign, the participating nonprofits share their successes and their materials. Payroll stuffers, flyers and brochures are all available online and for reproduction.

“Our message is important to low-wage workers. Getting the information out to the right audience often means working with employers and providing them the tools to help their employees,” said Karla Gottlieb, program director at HSC.

The information costs businesses nothing, and the yield is immeasurable.

"We want to make sure we are providing the best for our employees and their families," said Cristina de la Rionda, HR manager at the Loews Hotel on Miami Beach . "We are the liaison between the employees and the services that are available to them."

Florida Prosperity Campaign offers tips to help your employees

•      Share information about free tax prep in your community. Include details about EITC and the Child Tax Credit.

•      Visit www.flaprosperitycampaign.org to find a Prosperity Campaign. 

•       If you don’t have a Prosperity Campaign near you, contact your local IRS office for information about free tax prep in your community. Go to IRS.gov for details.

•      Inquire about bringing in free IRS certified tax preparers

     Download marketing materials at Corporate Voices for Working Families: http://www.cvworkingfamilies.org/toolkits/eitc/

For even more details about the Florida Prosperity Campaign, call 305-576-5001 x16.

The Prosperity Campaign is a project of the Human Services Coalition, funded in part by The Children's Trust. See our full list of funders.