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ERIE FREE TAXES is a coalition of non-profit organizations that promote free tax information and the benefits of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program in order to assist individuals with low to moderate incomes, to achieve a tax benefit.  

The coalition is comprised of the Booker T. Washington Center, GECAC, St. Martin Center Inc., Stairways Behavioral Health and WQLN Public Broadcasting. 

What Is The EITC Program?   

Created by the federal government in 1975, the EITC is the most effective poverty reduction program ever developed, but the credit is seriously underutilized.  It was designed to reduce or eliminate the taxes that lower income working people pay (such as payroll taxes) and also frequently operates as a wage subsidy.

Many qualifying taxpayers are: 

• Not aware of the credit. 

• Do not believe that they are eligible.

• Are unfamiliar on how to file a tax return to claim the credit. 

• Afraid they will jeopardize other benefits if they claim a credit.