April 15, 2014 marked the close of another successful tax season for 1199SEIU’s EITC Free Tax Preparation Program in Syracuse, NY. This year, 1199SEIU teamed up with the Syracuse Educational Opportunity Center to open a brand new EITC Free Tax Center at 100 New St. in an effort to increase participation and make this valuable service accessible to even more working men and women in our community.



“Both my mom and my sister got their taxes done this year at the new location and they were very satisfied,” Lakitta Delee, a Staffing Tech at Loretto Nursing Home, “They will be returning again next year.”



For the program’s 11th season in upstate New York, reports show that 2014 was the biggest and best year so far. Over 1400 1199SEIU members, family, and friends got their taxes done by professional tax preparers and over 3 million dollars was returned through the EITC program to the Syracuse community.



“I’ve been using the free tax service for years, and I’ve always been very happy with the program,” said April Potoczak, a CNA at Loretto Nursing Home in Syracuse, “Thank you, 1199!” When asked if this program was a good benefit provided by 1199SEIU, Cynthia Mike, a CNA at the Jewish Home of CNY said, “Yes, definitely. Two thumbs up!”



Besides tax preparation the EITC Free Tax Center also offered credit reporting, financial counselling, and ACA Navigator services to all participants.