Press Releases
02/22/2022
Lt. Governor Bysiewicz, New London Mayor Michael Passero Visit TVCCA Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site
(NEW LONDON, CT) – Today, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and New London Mayor Michael Passero visited a Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site in New London to raise awareness and educate Connecticut residents on the expansion of the Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and services available to help with tax preparation.
The VITA program offers free tax help for low-to moderate-income (under $56,000) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Volunteers, sponsored by various organizations, receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country.
“Governor Lamont and I are trying to get money back into the hands of the Connecticut residents. We have dedicated the remainder of our COVID-19 relief funds, $1.3 billion into supporting the Earned Income Tax Credit,” said Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz. “Our state is seeing the economic impact of inflation due to supply chain issues across the country. This has made it even harder for families, seniors and those on fixed incomes to afford basic goods and services as costs have risen sharply since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am thrilled that we can offer this support.”
Recently, Governor Lamont retroactively enhanced the 2020 EITC from 23% of the federal credit to 41.5%, providing necessary economic support to low-to-moderate income working individuals and families disproportionately burdened by COVID-19 and its negative economic impacts.
The enhancement will benefit 198,708 households that earned up to $56,844 in 2020 and filed for that year’s EITC. For example, a single parent of two at the federal poverty level who received a $1,246 state credit in the spring will now receive an additional $1,002 for a total state credit of $2,248.
“The Earned Income Tax Credit will provide enormous relief to households across the City of New London,” said Mayor Michael Passero. “Thank you to Governor Lamont and Lieutenant Governor Bysiewicz for the amazing expansion of EITC for both New London and Connecticut. This is going to greatly benefit the city.”
“Thank you to the state for everything you have done,” said Megan Brown, Chief Operations Officer. “The majority of our programs at the TVCCA are funded by the state, so all of the services we offer in this community are because the state allows us to. Thank you for the resources you’ve put out for the community.”
“We are thrilled about the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit both on the state level and the federal level because they go hand in hand,” said Kim Barry, Social Services Manager. “The EITC return rate was 23% and it has gone up by 7.5%, which is the same rate as inflation. Here in New London, we will see larger tax refunds, which means people will have more money in their pocket and more money to pay their bills.”
The Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit was created in 2011 and has had varying rates over the last decade, including 30% in 2011 and 2012, 25% in 2013, 27.5% from 2014 to 2016, and 23% from 2017 to 2020.
The rate was recently increased to 30.5% under the fiscal year 2022-2023 biennial state budget that Governor Lamont signed into law in June.
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For Immediate Release: Friday, February 18, 2022
Contact: Chelsea Neelon