The Prosperity Campaign
Free Income Tax Preparation and Help Getting Your
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Refund

NOTE: The Income Tax Season is over this year and the free income tax preparation sites are no longer active for this season. For Help Call 2-1-1.

Free Income Tax Preparation
Throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties, there are many free income tax preparation sites that not only can help you file your income tax at no cost, but help you access EITC and Child Tax Credit refunds, if you qualify. Please read below to find out more.



About EITC
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-and moderate-income working individuals and families. Congress, with strong bipartisan support, originally approved the tax credit legislation in 1975. When EITC exceeds the amount of taxes owed, it results in a tax refund to those who claim and qualify for the credit.

To qualify, taxpayers must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if they did not earn enough money to be obligated to file a tax return. EITC has no effect on certain welfare benefits. In most cases, EITC payments will not be used to determine eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps, low-income housing or most Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) payments.

EITC Fast Facts

• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is an amount that has been set aside by the federal government and is designed to aid low-to-moderate income workers.
• EITC is a refundable credit that can potentially be larger than the amount of taxes withheld from a qualifying worker’s paycheck.
• Amended returns can be filed for up to three years back to receive a potential refund of up to over $13,000.
• Eligible residents of Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties can have their taxes prepared free by certified tax preparers who will also ensure that eligible recipients receive their full, earned share of EITC.
• Recipients may invest their EITC money for needs such as reliable transportation, safe housing, payment of bills, college funds, and savings accounts to buy a home or other future needs.

Free Income Tax Preparation Sites
Download the locations of Free Income Tax Preparation sites in Pinellas County
Download the locations of Free Income Tax Preparation sites in Hillsborough County

More about the Prosperity Campaign
Established in 2004, the Prosperity Campaign had assisted citizens in preparing more than 31,500 tax returns with more than 5,400 Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) claimed. This converts to more than $25.5 million dollars in total tax refunds of which close to $7 million dollars resulting from Earned Income Tax Credits.

According to the Center for Economic Development Research at the University of South Florida the direct economic impact to the Tampa Bay area was $35.5 million dollars.

Each year millions of dollars are left unclaimed yet EITC lifts more children out of poverty each year than any other government program. Because of this the partners of the Prosperity Campaign are committed to community outreach and public awareness efforts that get this information to as many citizens as possible.