Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz visited a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site at Asnuntuck Community College to highlight the VITA program and raise awareness of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
VITA sites located across the state offer free tax return preparation to qualified individuals, including people who make $60,000 or less, people with disabilities, or limited English-speaking taxpayers.
The Lamont administration’s EITC proposed expansion would raise the current rate of 30.5% to the federal rate of 40%. The rate increase will provide an additional $44.6 million in state tax credits to approximately 211,675 qualifying low-income households. 97% of households receiving EITC have children.
“VITA services have allowed program recipients to maximize tax credits and to avoid unnecessary fees, especially at this challenging time when there’s so much inflation. The Governor and I are prioritizing providing relief to families by proposing to increase the EITC to 40% and a tax cut for individual filers that make $75,000 or less and for families that make $150,000 or less,” said Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz. “To make an appointment with VITA and take advantage of this great service, call 211 or make an appointment online.”
“Asnuntuck Community College has been a VITA site since 1981. In addition to making space available, we have professors and students volunteer their time, as well as provide access to computers, Wi-Fi, printers, paper, and whatever is needed. We firmly believe in bringing the community into our community college at every moment we can,” said Michelle Coach, Asnuntuck Community College Campus Chief Executive Officer.
“Enfield is [a] proud supporter of the VITA program. It helps low-income families, our senior citizens, and people with disabilities–it’s great for our community. I’m also very happy to hear that through legislation, there will be a permanent increase to the Earned Income Tax Credit, it will provide a lot of relief,” said Bob Cressotti, Mayor of Enfield.
Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit was created in 2011 and has had varying rates over the last decade, including 30% in 2011 and 2012, 25% in 2013, 27.5% from 2014 to 2016, 23% from 2017 to 2020, and most recently 30.5% for the 2022-2033 fiscal year.
The Lt. Governor also toured Asnuntuck’s campus during her visit. See additional photos from the visit on Asnuntuck’s Facebook page.
