South Hampton Roads EITC Coalition

In 2004, after hearing a conference speaker talk about the importance of EITC and coalition-building, a group of non-profit and local government employees decided that the South Hampton Roads* area of Virginia would benefit from such an alliance. By 2005, the Internal Revenue Service and more than a dozen community service organizations and local and state government agencies worked together to create the South Hampton Roads EITC Coalition (SHREITC). SHREITC’s first tax season began with a handful of sites, where volunteers filed 604 federal returns; 37% included the Earned Income Tax Credit, resulting in $406,000 in EITC refunds to the region’s taxpayers. Today, the Coalition operates 14 sites and, during 2009, filed 1431 returns. Out of $1.85 million in total refunds, taxpayers received $879,000 in EITC.

*South Hampton Roads comprises the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk and Franklin, Virginia.

Collaboration at its Best

Twenty-two organizations strong (a list can be found below), SHREITC is finding ways to partner with even more programs to provide additional services to the taxpayers it serves. This year, SHREITC will partner with Census 2010 and participate in the United Way of South Hampton Roads’ financial stability initiative to educate and encourage taxpayers to save and spend wisely; taxpayers who visit SHREITC’s VITA sites will be offered a free financial assessment, membership to the new Virginia Saves Campaign, and access to educational and mentoring resources. SHREITC members are excited about the growing interest and opportunities other organizations have expressed as it really provides a holistic experience for their taxpayers.

Expanding through Quality and Volunteers

SHREITC prides itself on having a core group of very passionate and productive volunteers who participate in the tax season every year and stay engaged with the Coalition through monthly meetings. However, in 2010, with an anticipated 38% increase of filed returns, SHREITC wants to expand its volunteer base with a particular emphasis on enhanced quality service to eligible working families and individuals.

The South Hampton Roads EITC Coalition is a great example for other young EITC coalitions who are looking to grow, but still maintain a high-level of quality for their clients.

South Hampton Roads EITC Coalition Members

• Advocate for Family Counsel
• Chesapeake Commissioner of the Revenue Office
• Franklin Department of Social Services
• Franklin Commissioner of the Revenue Office
• Lewis Accounting
• Norfolk Department of Human Services
• Norfolk Commissioner of the Revenue Office
• Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority
• Norfolk State University
• Philippine Cultural Center
• Portsmouth Department of Social Services
• Portsmouth Commissioner of the Revenue Office
• Regent University
• Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project (STOP)
• Suffolk Commissioner of the Revenue Office
• Tidewater Community College – Chesapeake
• Tidewater Community College – Virginia Beach
• United Way of South Hampton Roads
• Virginia Beach Department of Human Services
• Virginia Beach Commissioner of the Revenue Office
• Virginia Cooperative Extension
• Welcome Home CDC