Wisconsin CUs Recruit Low-Income TaxFilers

MADISON, Wis. - (01/10/06) – Area credit unions aretraveling around Wisconsin with state officials to try and dissuadelow-income tax filers from taking out costly tax anticipation loansthis season and convince them to file their taxes electronically toreceive their refunds more rapidly. Several credit unions havesigned on to offer no-cost deposit accounts as an alternative tothe high-cost refund anticipation loans that have grown inpopularity over the past few years, especially among low-income taxfilers. Credit unions in Madison, Milwaukee, and several othercities will open deposit accounts and work with volunteers from theWisconsin Department of Revenue at Volunteer Income Tax Assistancesites. The sites offer free tax preparation, tax education andasset-building strategies to people with low incomes, the disabled,and those with limited English proficiency, and theelderly.