One Economy Corporation to Provide Free Tax Preparation and Online Filing Services for Taxpayers in Harford County

Wal-Mart Foundation-funded Mobile Tax Center Van Available to Help Local Taxpayers Claim Tax Credits and Save on Preparation Fees

Los Angeles (March 23, 2009) – One Economy, a global nonprofit organization that helps low-income Americans enter the economic mainstream will bring free tax preparation and online filing services to taxpayers in Harford County.

“One Economy created an online tax filing platform to make it easier for low- and moderate-income Americans to get the credits and refunds they deserve,” said Rey Ramsey, CEO of One Economy. “Through the Wal-Mart Foundation’s support, we are able to take our digital tools and resources directly into our community, to provide local taxpayers with the knowledge and confidence to file online themselves.”

IRS-certified tax professionals will be on hand to help deliver One Economy’s online filing technology to eligible taxpayers – those earning less than $56,000 per year – according to the following schedule:

March 30-31: Harford Community Action Agency, 1321-B Woodbridge Station Way, Edgewood, MD 21040, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

April 1: The Salvation Army of Harford County, 300 Rear Seneca Ave., Havre de Grace, MD 21078, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

April 2-3: Mason-Dixon Community Services, Highland Commons Building, 708 Highland Rd., Street, MD 21154, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

April 4: Harford Community Action Agency, 1321-B Woodbridge Station Way, Edgewood, MD 21040, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

April 6: The Salvation Army of Harford County, 300 Rear Seneca Ave., Havre de Grace, MD 21078, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

April 7-11: Harford Community Action Agency, 1321-B Woodbridge Station Way, Edgewood, MD 21040, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

“I’ve visited communities throughout the East Coast and the response to the Mobile Tax Center van has been amazing,” said Michael Byrne, Northeast Site Coordinator of One Economy. “People are excited to see just how easy it is to file online and it’s especially gratifying to help someone get a deduction or tax credit they didn’t know about previously.”

The Mobile Tax Center van is part of a $3.6 million Wal-Mart Foundation grant to United Way and One Economy, which launched the first-ever free mobile tax filing tour funded by a national retailer. Mobile Tax Center vans will set up in Wal-Mart parking lots or at the offices of One Economy’s community partners, including, in at least 30 cities in 12 states and the District of Columbia for two-to-three weeks, between now and April 11. In total, the Wal-Mart Foundation’s grant has the potential to return $300 million* in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) refunds and save $45 million** in tax preparation fees.

Nationally, the IRS estimates that approximately 20 percent of eligible individuals and families are unaware that they qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a refundable federal income tax credit for low- to moderate-income individuals and families. With One Economy’s online tools and the arrival of a Mobile Tax Center van, this effort has set out to ensure that a greater number of taxpayers in Harford County are educated about the EITC and have access to free tax filing assistance.

For additional information on the Mobile Tax Center van tour and eligibility requirements, consumers can visit www.myfreetaxes.com.