THE FIVE Ws OF CTA

As you can see in this issue and our previous issue, CTA is making a concerted effort this year to attract more volunteers. After all, more volunteers mean more taxpayers that we can help. For those of you relatively new to our organization perhaps a quick summary of Community Tax Aid is necessary at this point. Here are the five Ws of CTA:

WHO are we? Community Tax Aid is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization (501(c)(3)) that has been in existence since 1969. We are the oldest organization of its kind in the country. 

WHAT do we do? CTA prepares individual income tax returns, free of charge, for qualifying low-income taxpayers in New York City. We prepare Federal and state returns (all states, including NYS) for the current and, if necessary, prior tax years. At times, depending on the taxpayers’ tax issues, we will also represent these individuals in settling disputes with various tax authorities. No one at CTA is compensated for his/her services. It is volunteerism in the truest sense of the word. 

WHERE do we do our work? CTA subsists on the kindness and generosity of our storefront partners. These storefronts, third party community groups, donate their space to us. Last season CTA had nine storefronts situated throughout four boroughs (we are not in Staten Island – yet). Additionally, CTA hosts several One Day Events, a short term preparation event. There were five One Day Events last tax season. 

WHEN do we do our work? The months of February through April constitute our tax season. However, we are an all year organization. We have heard from taxpayers throughout the year asking for our help. We consider all requests for assistance.

WHY? The founders of CTA had the foresight to see that the Tax Code at the time with its various credits and deductions can and should be available to all deserving taxpayers. However, these same taxpayers do not have the means to get tax help. To solve this paradox, CTA was formed. Over the years the Code has evolved but not necessarily for the better. CTA continues its mission of helping those who cannot help themselves. 

A good news article is supposed to answer the five Ws for its readers. Hopefully this article has answered your questions. For those new to CTA, we respectfully request you join us this coming tax season. As we get closer to next February be on the alert for more news about us. 
 

MORE RECRUITING NEWS

In our last issue we reported our visit to NYU to recruit new volunteers. The Recruiting Committee is proud to report its visits to two other schools. While NYU is in Manhattan, these schools are located in Brooklyn and the Bronx. 

On Friday, October 18, CTA traveled to Brooklyn College’s Student Center to participate in its Job/Internship Fair. CTA was one of over a dozen companies seeking students in fields as diverse as taxes, education and sports. 35 names were added to our mailing list of potential volunteers. 

Hostos College was the destination of CTA on Thursday, October 24. It was there that we attended that school’s Career Fair. Over two dozen names were added to our mailing list as a result. 

Our success at these venues could not have been accomplished without the assistance of the following: Joselyn Marroquin, Career Services Coordinator at Brooklyn College and Lisanette Rosario, Director of Career Services at Hostos College. To you and your staffs CTA offers its sincerest thanks.  

For those of you reading this, if you are a current student, how about letting us know about your school? We are available to visit and meet with your peers. Reach out to us at generalinfo@communitytaxaidnyc.org. 

CTA CALENDAR – NEXT BOARD MEETING

The next meeting of the CTA board is scheduled for Tuesday, November 19, 2019, from 6:15pm to 8:00pm. The meeting will be held at Fountain House: 425 West 47th Street, NY, NY 10036. All interested parties are invited to attend. Reach out to us at 646 200-5080 or emailing us at generalinfo@communitytaxaidnyc.org for updates.