Free one-on-one tax clinics help residents prepare tax returns, claim tax credits
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger encourages residents from the Antelope Valley to attend any of the upcoming Claim Your Cash tax clinics that offer free tax preparation services and help residents claim unused tax credits.
Claim Your Cash is a new pilot program made possible through a collaboration between Economic Security California (ESCA), Los Angeles County, and local nonprofit partners including America’s Job Center of California. The program focuses on helping low-income households obtain tax credits on both the state and federal level.
“Tax season is here and I want to ensure residents know they can access support from professionals who stand ready to help them maximize their returns and apply for all eligible tax credits,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “These are tough economic times and every penny counts.”
According to the Economic Security Project, research has revealed that a significant proportion of low-income California households miss out on cash payments through state and federal tax credits and stimulus programs. This results in hundreds of millions of dollars in unclaimed credits and refunds every year in Los Angeles County alone.
“Claim Your Cash is a unique program that provides accessible community-based support to residents who need it the most,” said Mónica V. Lazo, Southern California Program Director for Economic Security California. “It will shift the burden that individuals experience when interacting with the government, which functions as a ‘time tax’ on low-income households. It will make filing taxes less burdensome, confusing, and knock down barriers to access for low-income families, immigrants, and anyone for whom English is a second language.”
The clinics in the Antelope Valley will be held on the following dates, times, and locations:
Thursday, March 28 and Friday, March 29
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Palmdale–America’s Job Center of California
38510 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 93550
Wednesday, April 3 and Thursday, April 4
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Antelope Valley–America’s Job Center of California
1420 West Avenue I, Lancaster, CA 93534
Interested residents can either call 1-888-844-3276 or visit claimyourcashla.com to schedule an appointment. Residents can also walk in without an appointment. Spanish-speaking tax specialists are available.
Media interviews with Claim Your Cash spokespersons or onsite staff can be set up by emailing jenna@economicsecurityproject.org to connect with ESCA’s Senior Communications Strategist Jenna Severson.