League’s tools help make CU’s participation in Free Tax Preparation Assistance sites easy

Credit unions participating in the Free Tax Preparation Assistance Program can access several tools from The League that will help them promote their efforts, making it easy for credit unions to focus on what’s important – helping low-income tax filers avoid refund anticipation loans (RALs) in favor of fast, free tax refunds via direct deposit.

Sample newsletters/press releases. Use sample newsletter articles and news releases for pre- and post-season promotion of the Free Tax Preparation Assistance initiative. The sample articles and releases will help you keep your members informed, and help your credit union notify local media about how your efforts help low income tax filers.

Photo consent forms. Print out photo consent forms and ask those you photograph to sign one. Take pictures of your staff or volunteers helping filers or invite a news photographer to take photos. Use photos in your newsletter, on your website and share them with lawmakers and the media.

Public Service Announcements. Help bring attention to the service by asking local radio stations to use public service announcements. The League offers 15- and 30-second scripts that detail how low-income tax filers benefit by having their refunds direct deposited into a credit union account. Audio files are also available in CD and MP3 format. Contact Chad Helminak at (800) 242-0833, Ext. 6012.

Listserv. Use The League’s listserv, or email discussion group, to get up-to-date information about the initiative and connect with other credit unions participating in the initiative. You can join this virtual network even before you commit to participation.

Informational handouts. Make copies of informational handouts in both English and Spanish that are provided by The League to help your credit union communicate with low income filers about how the program works and help explain the benefits of direct deposit.

Interested in participating? Sign up to learn more about how you can help.