Background:
- A group of community funders began the Real$ense Prosperity Campaign seven years ago for the purpose of:
- Revenue maximization in Duval and surrounding counties
- Bringing federal dollars back into the community in the form of Earned Income Tax Credit to those who have earned it but not claimed it (as much as $10 million in Jacksonville alone)
- Financial stabilization for hard-working individuals and families through education and income leveraging opportunities to build long-term assets
- United Way agreed to be the lead partner; the coalition was announced (December 2003) and championed by Mayor John Peyton, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, and Councilwoman Suzanne Jenkins
- Coalition funders include the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, United Way of Northeast Florida, The City of Jacksonville, Wells Fargo Bank, Bank of America, IRS, SunTrust Bank, Wal-Mart Foundation, and the National Disability Institute
- More than 80 community partners participate
Mission:
To proactively provide resources to improve the prosperity of our community’s most vulnerable and economically-challenged citizens.
Programs:
One Smart Move: The Real$ense programs provided by strategic allies consist of the following core functions that help our target audience to:
- Hold On To Your Money: Free Financial Education Classes
- Duval Co. Extension Agency, Jacksonville Urban League, Family Foundations, War On Povery and other community partners
File For FREE! Save the FEE!: Free income tax preparation
- 400+ volunteers in 62 locations in 8 counties
- AARP Tax Aide and IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Sites
Triple Your Savings: Individual Development Accounts; matched savings at $2 to $1
- Family Foundations (904-396-4846)
| Target Audience: Individual Development Accounts | |
| Household Size | Income Limit |
| 1 | $21,780 |
| 2 | $29,420 |
| 3 | $37,060 |
| 4 | $44,700 |
| 5 | $52,340 |
| 6 | $59,980 |
| 7 | $67,620 |
| 8 | $75,260 |
| *For family units of more than 8 members, add $7,640 for each additional member. |
| Target Audience – Earned Income Tax Credit: |
| Family/single w/ no child, income <$19,190 – Refund up to $ 475* |
| Family/single w/ 1 child, income <$42,130 – Refund up to $3.169* |
| Family/single w/ 2 child, income <$47,162– Refund up to $5,236* |
| Family/single w/ 3 child, income <$50,270 – Refund up to $5,891* |
| *Numbers are for married filing jointly, for income limit for single, subtract $5,210 |
Results:
In nine years—$30 million in direct spending power has been returned to lower-to-modest income citizens:
- $36 Million into the community through Earned Income Tax Credit—federal dollars new to our community
- $19.4 Million saved for our clients on paid tax preparers
- 340 Enrollees in IDA accounts, 68 graduates
- 96,684 Student financial class hours
- $120.2 Million in total refunds
- 95,706 Total returns completed
2012 tax season:
- 16,629 Total returns completed 6% Increase
- 3,802 EITC returns completed 4% Increase
- $22,051,463 Total refunds in dollars 10% Increase
- $ 6,248,687 Total EITC refunds in dollars 6% Increase
- $ 3,498,775 Saved by Taxpayers by filing for free 4% Increase
- 24,279 Potential clients engaged during outreach events
