Facilitating Self-Prepared Income Taxes MyFreeTaxes.com 2012 Campaign

One Economy One Economy Corporation is a global nonprofit organization that uses innovative approaches to deliver the power of technology and information to low-income people, giving them valuable tools for building better lives. Our mission is to maximize the potential of technology to help people improve their lives and enter the economic mainstream.

Creating New Partnerships for Facilitated Tax Preparation Clients IRS Software Provider Resources CBO Delivery

One Economy’s free tax software guides users through the often complicated process of understanding and filing their taxes in accessible, easy-to-understand language. The Beehive’s Tax Tool empowers people to take control of their finances and achieve self-sufficiency. Empowering Communities

Results Oriented Growth

One Economy Offers The Beehive’s Tax Tool is a scalable and sustainable system for the self-preparation of income taxes. National VITA referral source Bi-lingual educational material to explain low-income credits Free Federal and State Tax Preparation and E-Filing < $57,000 Techniques to lessen the frustration of self-preparation Ability to track user data for all tax returns in aggregate

One Economy Offers 820,000 visitors have learned about taxes and how to find a local VITA site > 64,000 clients from 50 states or on military deployment have prepared and e-filed free federal and state returns >$93 million in refunds returned using the Beehive Tax Tool 39% of filers qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

Who Qualifies? Qualified clients receive free federal and multi-state preparation and e-filing Individual clients must have: Valid address Valid SSN or ITIN Adjusted Gross Income <$57,000 No Foreign Income

Reporting in 2012 Traffic reports weekly on accounts created and filed. Specific URL accounts allow for aggregated demographic and financial reports end of season. SIDN-recording for IRS Facilitated Self Tax Prep participation

EITC by Text Message Ideal for Client use Compete with Holiday Loan Marketing!

Smartphone Applications Ideal for field work and volunteers Uses images and graphics to estimate eligibility Spanish and English >9,000 downloads in 2011

The Myfreetaxes.com Campaign - Empowers low and middle- income individuals - Connects these filers to free income tax preparation - Ensures that low and middle-income families maximize the tax credits and deductions they are entitled to receive

Self-Preparation Technology Platform Online Who owns it? Who protects it? Who manages it? Who provides training?

Self-Preparation Target Population Single filers W-2 income only Computer-aware Middle school reading comprehension

What We Look for in a Site An ideal site… is easy to find (off main road, in busy shopping center, etc.) is easy to access and accessible has plenty of parking is large enough to easily accommodate 10 laptops, filers and any volunteers present Restrooms Internet!

Set-up On the following slide is the layout of an ideal tax lab set-up. This set-up can be modified depending on the space and the number of computers you have available. Please note that the set-up is designed to try and make clients feel their privacy is being respected. However, above all, make the set-up as feasible and client-friendly as possible.

X O E E PS SI v E=extension cord O= driver computer PS=power strip SB=sandwich board SI= sign in table X=laptop = power cord C = chair TYPICAL TRAINING ROOM SET UP 10 Computers SB entrance CCCCC CCCCCC

Facilitating Self-Prepared Income Taxes Lee Davenport