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National Community Tax Coalition
A Unified Voice for the Community Tax Preparation Movement

Over the past decade, a growing movement has united community organizations that help low- and moderate-income families climb the economic ladder. These organizations work to educate families about asset-building opportunities, including how to increase access to important tax credits and benefits. At the heart of the movement is the National Community Tax Coalition (NCTC).

NCTC is the national membership organization for these community organizations. It builds on its affiliates’ expertise in delivery of tax preparation and asset-building services and public policy to serve as a unified voice on tax policies and practices impacting Americans nationwide.

As the coalition has grown, NCTC continues to increase its effectiveness by providing capacity-building support to its affiliates and a state and federal legislative platform from which affiliates can lend their voice.

NCTC also offers members the ability to shape the work of the community tax preparation movement. Four working groups have developed including a scale and sustainability working group, a quality working group, an asset building working group and an advocacy working group. Members of these groups help shape the work and products developed by NCTC as well as shape the positions that NCTC takes on policy and practice issues. 

Throughout the year, NCTC provides a wide-variety of trainings, ranging from increasing outreach to Latino communities to the basics of advocacy to new features of tax preparation software.

In early-2009, NCTC launched a policy blog: WorkForward focusing on tax policy, predatory lending, asset-building policy, funding for community VITA and how the economy impacts low- and moderate-income Americans.

The coalition’s advocacy building work is culminating in a first annual Day of Action, to be held on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 in Washington, D.C. and in the states. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs around the country will speak with one voice to highlight the impact of community VITA, build relationships with state and federal legislators and advocate for NCTC policy priorities.  Their shared priorities include funding for community VITA, regulation of paid-preparers, safe financial products for all consumers and savings opportunities for low-wage workers.

VITA programs work in communities to provide support to struggling families every day. Their voice—as well as the voice of their clients—needs to be a part of any tax policy discussion at the state or federal level. NCTC and its affiliates have become that leading voice for families.

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