News Release - Hawaii House of Representatives

January 26, 2010- For immediate release

FREE FEDERAL AND STATE TAX PREPARATION AND FILING

AT THE STATE CAPITOL BY IRS-CERTIFIED VOLUNTEERS

Honolulu, Hawaii. On Saturday, January 29, 2011, from 9 am to 2 pm, IRS-certified volunteers
will assist taxpayers with filing their federal and state income tax returns free of charge in
conference room 329 of the Hawaii State Capitol. In partnership with the Hawaii Alliance for
Community-Based Economic Development (HACBED) and its partner organizations, state
legislators are hosting this special tax clinic to provide low-to-moderate income taxpayers with
an opportunity to receive assistance from trained volunteers, who will help taxpayers save
money through free taxing filing services and by claiming valuable tax credits. This event at the
Capitol is an effort by state legislators to kick off the 2011 tax season.

Since the 2006 tax season, HACBED, its community partners and volunteers have helped low-to-
moderate income taxpayers claim over $11 million in tax refunds, including $6.7 million in
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credits, and saved these taxpayers more than
$1.3 million in tax preparation costs.

"Many people are unaware that they qualify for EITC,” said Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland.
“People who were previously ineligible may now be eligible because of changes in their
personal lives, such as marriage or divorce, having children, and loss of a job or reduction in
hours.”

State legislators sponsoring this free tax clinic at the State Capitol are: House Speaker Calvin
Say, Representative Della Au Belatti, Representative Tom Brower, Representative Sylvia Luke,
Representative Scott Nishimoto, Representative Karl Rhoads, Representative Scott Saiki,
Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland, and Senator Brickwood Galuteria.

"Although the ideal situation would be to persuade taxpayers to use a free tax site before they
develop the habit of going to a paid preparer, at this level, the primary concern is having them
file a proper tax return and claim whatever tax credits they are entitled to claim," added
Representative Della Au Belatti.

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Page 2 - FREE FEDERAL AND STATE TAX PREPARATION AND FILING AT THE STATE CAPITOL BY
IRS-CERTIFIED VOLUNTEERS

Tax preparation sessions are confidential and safe. All tax returns will be prepared by IRS-
certified volunteers who volunteer at other sites coordinated by HACBED's Family and
Individual Self-Sufficiency Program. The program started offering free tax assistance services to
low-to-moderate income workers at four permanent sites in 2005 when it was first established
under Aloha United Way. Today, this statewide program recruits volunteers and coordinates
efforts at more than 40 sites and clinics that are sponsored by non-profit organizations,
educational institutions, and businesses. Some of the program's community partners include
Alulike, Inc., Leeward Community College, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, the Council for
Native Hawaiian Advancement, Honolulu Community Action Program, INGDirect, Goodwill
Industries, Native Hawaiian Advancement, KEY Project, Honolulu Community Action Program,
and several credit unions in Kekaha, Hickam, and Maui.

For more information about the special clinic at the Hawaii State Capitol and to make an
appointment, taxpayers should call 808-548-8887. Free parking will be available at the public's
blue-metered stalls in the Capitol's basement.

To locate other free tax assistance sites, taxpayers can call Aloha United Way's Helpline at 2-1-
1. For a complete list of tax sites on Oahu, Big Island, Maui, and Kauai, and more information
about HACBED's Family and Individual Self-Sufficiency Program, taxpayers should visit the
Program's website at www.hawaiitaxhelp.org.

The Family and Individual Self-Sufficiency Program became a part of the HACBED in July 2009.
It was established to coordinate, support, and expand free tax assistance service to low-to-
moderate income workers and to help them claim valuable tax credits such as the EITC.
HACBED is a statewide federally tax-exempt non-profit organization established in 1992 to
encourage increased investments in sustainable and community-based approaches to economic
development. Its mission is to maximize the effectiveness of people working in communities
and the non-profit sector to build a healthier and safer Hawai`i through community-based
economic development.

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Contacts:
Office of Representative Della Au Belatti
808-956-9425

Office of Suzanne Chun Oakland

808-586-6130