Boston Mayor Martin Walsh published an article on the National League of Cities CitiesSpeak blog on Dec. 13. The blog post, “How Boston Helped Residents Get Bigger Tax Returns,” describes the city’s efforts to educate low- and moderate-income residents about tax-filing strategies and credit building.

Each year, in preparation for tax time, the Boston Tax Help Coalition helps educate residents about the Earned Income Tax Credit and offers free tax preparation. The annual campaign is part of a wider set of programs run through the mayor’s Office of Financial Empowerment, initiatives that include free financial coaching, savings accounts for children, and credit-building help.

The Tax Help Coalition was launched in 2001, in response to the fact that Boston residents were losing out on millions in unclaimed tax credits. Now, the coalition’s 400 volunteers help return $24 million to about 13,000 Boston taxpayers each year.

Walsh’s blog post can be found at citiesspeak.org/2019/12/13/how-boston-helped-residents-get-bigger-tax-returns.

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