SPOKANE, Wash. — The City of Spokane is launching a new campaign with the hopes of putting more money in people's pockets.
The Department of Revenue announced that eligible families across Spokane County are missing out on the Working Families Tax Credit.
The City of Spokane and local partners announced they are allocating $250,000 from the American Rescue Plan to support new efforts that encourage participation in the Working Families Tax Credit.
The Working Families Tax Credit offered through the Washington State Department of Revenue provides payments from $800 to $1,255 annually.
Right now, the Department of Revenue estimates that out of the 30,000 eligible families in Spokane County, more than 17,000 families are not utilizing this available program.
“We want those refunds to be in our community, in the pocketbooks and hands of our residents, then being spent in our business and helping to support our families,” Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown said.
Earlier this year, Brown put forward a proposal to the city council to utilize $250,000 of the American Rescue Plan dollars to raise awareness of the credit.
Local partners like Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners, Nuestra Raices, Spokane Public Schools and LaunchNorthwest are part of this outreach initiative.
SNAP said this credit can make a meaningful impact.
“It was a single father," Nicole Bishop, SNAP philanthropy manager, said. "He was living in a hotel with his daughter because he couldn’t afford the first and last month's rent and all of the deposit, and he qualified for the tax credit, which he was able to put toward that deposit so that he could be stable and housed.”
The city says you may apply even if you think you are not eligible.
“Single individuals, creatives, musicians, people in the gig economy who may not have made enough income to qualify for federal taxes and you may still be eligible for this tax credit, after all, you are paying sales tax,” Brown said.
Nuestras Raices echoed that thought about those who may think they cannot apply.
“You can obtain the Washington Family Tax Credit even if you have an I-10," Ivan Torres with Nuestras Raices said. "Our licensed professionals can help you obtain one if you don’t have one.”
The City of Spokane says applicants can apply through a portal on the Department of Revenue website.
The four community organizations at Tuesday's press conference are offering free assistance to anyone who needs help accessing or filling out the tax application. Brown wants to avoid errors on applications, which she says can lead to unused credits.
The City says people can apply now. This tax credit is not on the same timeline as federal tax filing. The city encourages people to not leave any money on the table.