May 20, 2015
Niki Turner is a single mother who returned to work two years ago after attending school while raising her children. For several years prior to working, Niki did not know she was eligible to receive any tax credits and did not receive a refund.
After seeking assistance from Goodwill’s MoneyWorks’ tax preparation services at Goodwill’s headquarter facility – a designated Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax site – Niki was pleasantly surprised with her tax refund. Having not filed taxes for two years because of her low income and the high cost of filing, she had no idea she would be qualified for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Child Tax Credit, as well as the Michigan Home Heating Credit and Property Tax Credit. She did not anticipate receiving such a large refund amount, which totaled more than half of her yearly income! Niki is the targeted population for the Earned Income Tax Credit, which is designed to assist low-to-moderate income families and reward working.
A friend told her about the tax service and she was happy she made the appointment. Although frustrated about gathering all of the required tax documentation, she learned it was worth taking the time to get the information needed for filing. Niki is grateful for the tax preparation provided by Goodwill MoneyWorks and VITA Services for West Michigan. She is so pleased with the service she received, she is making another appointment to complete her prior year tax return.
The money received will go a long way for Niki. It will allow her to pay ahead on bills, help pay for her daughter’s drivers education, purchase clothes for her children, and buy furniture needed for her home. Niki was very savvy with her return. With assistance from MoneyWorks, she elected to split her refund between her checking and savings accounts to build an emergency fund.