EITC Awareness Day at ESR

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

--Tracey Magaraci

Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines addresses attendees at ESR's EITC Awareness Day event.

On Friday, January 31, more than 55 people—including several notable community figures from Winston-Salem—gathered with Experiment in Self-Reliance (ESR) to celebrate Annual EITC Awareness Day. ESR hosted a lunchtime event featuring Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines. Cathy Drabble from United Way and members of Leadership Winston-Salem also attended.

During the event, Mayor Joines read the 2025 City of Winston-Salem Proclamation, officially recognizing EITC Awareness Day. Marsha Smith, Chair of ESR’s Board of Directors, and Executive Director Fred Bazemore participated in the proclamation reading.

Mayor Joiness with ESR Executive Director, Fred Bazemore

Mayor Joiness with ESR Board Chair, Marsha Smith, and ESR Executive Director, Fred Bazemore

Shirley Abdullah, the VITA Program director, highlighted one of the event’s unique aspects: attendees witnessed the VITA program in action, as several taxpayers had their returns prepared on-site.

Members of the Leadership Winston-Salem Action Team were also present. This initiative is developing a system to recruit, onboard, and retain volunteers, which will be invaluable to the VITA Program because the volume of returns ESR’s VITA program can process directly depends on the volunteer workforce.

The celebration informs the community about the importance of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for low-income families and promotes ESR’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program—also known as Forsyth Free Tax. Many of those who are eligible to have their tax returns prepared at a VITA site are also eligible for the EITC.

The EITC is a refundable tax credit that eligible low-income taxpayers can receive as part of their refund, even if they owe no taxes. As the IRS website explains, “Tax credits are amounts you subtract from your bottom-line tax due when you file your tax return. Most tax credits can reduce your tax only until it reaches $0. Refundable credits go beyond that to give you any remaining credit as a refund. That's why it's best to file taxes even if you don't have to. Many people who qualify for refundable credits miss out on refunds because they don't file.”

ESR’s VITA program prepares free tax returns for low-to-moderate income taxpayers. The volunteer tax preparers are IRS-trained and certified each year to be sure they have the most recent tax knowledge. Although most returns processed at VITA sites are straightforward, the program also handles additional filings—such as prior year and amended returns—after the April 15 tax season conclusion. In addition to saving money by not going to a professional tax agency, taxpayers who utilize a VITA site can connect with other services in the community if they have the need and interest.

This year, ESR’s VITA services are available at two sites: a walk-in location at ESR and an appointment-based service at the central library.