This tax season, Pennsylvanians will be able to electronically file their state and federal income taxes and apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit online and for FREE at www.icanefile.org.

I-CAN! E-File is a FREE internet-based resource that can help low to moderate income taxpayers file their tax returns and claim the Earned Income Tax Credit.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) enables working families to receive up to $4,824 from the IRS. Unfortunately, an estimated 25% of those eligible do not receive this important credit – robbing both the taxpayer and the community of valuable revenue.

A rough estimate of the lost refunds from not filing a return claiming the credit is $300 million per year. In addition, it is estimated that 80% of EITC recipients use paid tax preparers at a cost of $650 million per year.

There is no income limit to use I-CAN!® E-file. Just answer simple questions on each screen and print your completed tax returns. I-CAN!® E-file can also e-file (electronically file) your federal return to the IRS and your state return with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The user-friendly I-CAN! E-File web site was created by the Legal Aid Society of Orange County and is rolled out throughout the country by partner non-profit organizations. Pennsylvania I-CAN!™ E-File was developed by Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services, Inc.

The website can be used by anyone with access to an Internet connection and a printer. For example, someone could use I-CAN!™ E-File at work, at a computer terminal in a public library or in the privacy of their own home.

By logging onto the website, filers who have a bank account can obtain their refund money in as little as ten days. By using this option, I-CAN!™ E-File users avoid paying interest and filing fees associated with the “instant refunds” offered by companies providing refund anticipation loans. These fees and interest can consume up to one half of the user's tax credit.

Last year, Pennsylvania I-CAN!™ E-File returned $1.6 million in total returns and $562,000 in EITC money.

Visit the I-CAN! E-File website for more information and to file your 2008 income tax returns.

Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Presents 2009 Excellence Awards

The 2009 Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Excellence Awards were presented at the annual awards dinner on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, at the Harrisburg Hilton & Towers.

The evening's keynote speaker was The Honorable Marjorie O. Rendell, Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. A social hour preceded the awards dinner which began at 6:00 PM.

The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Excellence Awards honor members and friends of the legal aid community who exemplify excellence in their commitment and accomplishments as advocates for low-income people.

The 2009 Excellence Award recipients include includes a variety of civil legal aid professionals and friends of civil legal aid across Pennsylvania who were recognized for their efforts in support of the clients served by the programs of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network. Individuals selected for recognition include:

Also recognized with Excellence Awards were the Honorable Darnell Jones, Judge, U.S. District Court of Eastern District of PA (and former President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County), and the Honorable Annette Rizzo, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, for their work relating to the groundbreaking Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Pilot Program that was implemented in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County in 2008.

The HomeWorks Project was also presented with an Excellence Award for a unique and innovative collaboration between Regional Housing Legal Services and the Pennsylvania Health Law Project to develop a supportive housing project tailored to the needs of a group of disabled individuals.

Individuals recognized in connection with the project include David Gates, Esq., PA Health Law Project and Kim Dolan, Esq., Regional Housing Legal Services, as well as the residents of the project, Kevin Alston, Michael Anderson and William Keech.

A video tribute to each of the award winners was presented during the awards ceremony. Those video tributes may be viewed at the link below. Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. salutes each of the 2009 award winners for their efforts in promoting equal justice to all.

Photos from the Awards Dinner
View the Video Tributes