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    • Philly Tax Time Prosperity Program

    Posted by Philadelphia Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity on November 12, 2019

    About the Program

    Philly Tax Time Prosperity will be enrolling low- to moderate-income Philadelphians with a special preference for new Americans and citizens returning home from jail or prison. The enrollment period runs from November 2019 to February 2020.

    This program aims to help the 35% of unbanked or underbanked Philadelphians who depend on expensive and exploitative alternative financial services such as check cashing.

    Participants will first be scheduled for an in-person or phone meeting with a Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) counselor. Over the course of this first meeting, if participants do not have a bank account or are not satisfied with their current account, they will work with their counselor to open a safe and affordable account.

    Next, after considering their options with a FEC counselor, participants will commit to an action plan for their anticipated 2020 tax return. Philly Tax Time Prosperity acknowledges that the path to financial stability is different for everyone: it may take the form of paying off debts and raising credit scores, budget stabilization, or even saving for a family vacation. Action plans are determined by the participant in collaboration with their counselor.

    After the initial FEC appointment, participants will then work with IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax preparers at sites throughout the city to obtain their refund and have it deposited into a safe and affordable bank account.

    Finally, participants will return to their FEC counselor to check in on their progress toward achieving their action plan goals. If the participant is successful in completing the action plan, they will earn a $100 reward.

    Fill out the interest form below to indicate your interest in joining the program.

    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePeD2S6SI9cxB087LGdt7L3mK2kw114uM_iBCEwS8so_f1tQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1.

    Email katherine.wilson@phila.gov or call 215-686-8850 for more information or click here.

     

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