EHCDC is proud to provide tax and financial services for the growing Hispanic community in Baltimore City and the surrounding communities.  We started our Latino Serives program by providing free tax prepartion to Spanish-speaking clients as part of the 2005 CASH campaign.  With the help of a generous grant from the IRS we have recently become a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC).  As a LITC, we provide tax education through workshops and seminars designed for people and communities with ESL needs, including:  immigrants, refugees, and international students.  We also continue to provide free tax services to low-income workers. 

Individual Tax Counseling

• Free tax preparation

            Year-round service for people earning less than $38,000

                    Preparation and correction of back taxes (up to 3 years)

• Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN)

       Help with filling out application

       Counseling on the benefits, rights and responsibilities associated with ITINs

     
• Assistance with explanation and translation of IRS mailings                
• Referrals to Tax Lawyers and Taxpayer Advocate

Tax Planning Workshops

• Learn the basics of the US tax system
      Who has to file?
         Who can be claimed as a dependent?
         What are my rights and responsibilities as a US taxpayer?                        

             ….plus much more

• Tips to decrease tax liability
         Utilizing the itemized deduction
         Introduction to tax credits (EITC, Child, Dependent Care, Education, etc…)
         Learn how to prepay to avoid penalties
         Minimize the self-employment tax                                                                                    
• All about ITINs
         What is an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
         Documents needed for application
         Benefits and limitations associated with ITINs, etc. . .                                                        
• Learn how to avoid predatory tax preparers
         How to identify predatory practices
         What to look for before signing your return
  

Partners

Casey Family Services Baltimore Division was established in 1998 as the direct services arm of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Casey Family Services provides counseling and programming to young parents and foster children as well as a comprehensive family support center. East Harbor CDC provides tax preparation on-site and will be launching a financial education program within several groups (pre-GED, GED, play groups) in April 2005. Clients are primarily English and Spanish-speakers.

CASH Campaign (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) is a city-wide effort to promote the Earned Income Credit, provide free tax preparation and electronic filing, and connect people to asset building opportunities. The Campaign is in its fourth year and includes the Mayor's office, local foundation, non-profits, financial institutions, and businesses. East Harbor is the only site to offer tax preparation in multiple languages and we partner with Centro de la Comunidad to prepare Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs).

Centro de la Comunidad's mission is to promote the continued successful participation of the Hispanic community in the social, economic, and political life. Centro serves as an accessible, bilingual gateway into mainstream programs and activities, delivers culturally sensitive services targeted to meet the needs of the Hispanic community, and been a referral service that assists established entities, agencies and programs in serving the Hispanic community. We provide tax preparation on-site and are looking to add a financial education component to their programs.

East Harbor Village Center , as the parent organization of the EHCDC, will provide valuable resources including workforce development services, case management, technical assistance, and support staff.

East Baltimore Development Inc (EBDI) is a newly formed not-for-profit organization with the lead responsibility to manage the implementation of East Baltimore's revitalization due to the Johns Hopkins biotechnology park. EBDI's mission is to positively transform neighborhood life by expanding economic, housing, and human service opportunities in East Baltimore.  

Hispanic Apostolate provides pastoral care and short-term social services to Hispanic persons in the Baltimore metropolitan area. The center's bilingual staff offers assistance with employment, English proficiency, and access to health care. Services includes short-term social services, employment counseling, English classes, pastoral ministry, and health screening and clinics.

International Rescue Committee was founded in 1933 to provide relief, rehabilitation, protection, post-conflict development, resettlement services and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression. Located at 3516 Eastern Avenue, the IRC connect recent refugees to housing and employment opportunities in Southeast Baltimore and beyond. East Harbor CDC provides free tax preparation on-site and provides technical assistance to their financial education department.

Contact Information

 Lourdes Montes

410.753.4127

lourdes@ehcdc.org