FREE INCOME TAX SERVICES

Statewide Program Aims to Help Families Claim Refunds, Credits

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., January 25, 2010 –  With many Michigan residents facing economic woes and struggling to make ends meet, a little extra cash can make a big difference. That’s why credit unions have joined forces to promote Just File It! We’ll Help. Free State and Federal Tax Preparation Resources Provided by Credit Unions, a web-based program that allows families and individuals to file for state and federal tax credits that often go overlooked. This includes the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which can be as high as $5,600 for low-income, working households.

Over 100 Michigan credit unions, including OMNI Community Credit Union, are promoting Just File It! to their membership.  The Just File it! program returned over $10.3 million to individuals and families last year. “The need for a program like Just File It is greater than ever,” said Ted Parsons, CEO of OMNI Community Credit Union. “Which is why OMNI Community Credit Union is proud to join the network of credit unions and other nonprofits offering Just File It to help families put food on the table, move into better housing, invest in education or save for the future.”

All that is required to use the Just File it! program is a computer, Internet access, a Web browser and a printer. The program uses a free, Web-based software program, posing questions to users and offering assistance via video tutorials. It is offered in both English and Spanish.  OMNI Community Credit Union and a link to Just File It! may be accessed by visiting www.omnicommunitycu.org.

The technology backbone of the program was developed by the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, California.  The Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL), a statewide credit union trade association, underwrote the cost of developing the state income tax software in conjunction with the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, California, and the Michigan Poverty Law Center.  The Michigan Poverty Law Center is a joint project of Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM) and the University of Michigan Law School (UMLS). MPLP is funded in part by the Michigan State Bar Foundation (MSBF).

OMNI Community Credit Union has over 33,000 members across SW Michigan with $230 million in assets.  For two consecutive years, OMNI has given a Cashback Rebate of nearly $1.4 million dollars to say thank you to members.  The credit union continually reinvests in its membership and the communities they serve with new branches, some of the area’s best interest rates on loans and savings accounts, no fee checking, over 28,000 free ATMs, OMNI scholarships and is involved in over 40 community events annually.  Anyone in Southwest Michigan can bank with OMNI.  To find out how you can join, call 866-OMNI-WOW or visit www.omnicommunitycu.org.