The Department of Revenue launched the Income Inequality Initiative this past December.  The goal of this initiative is for all Philadelphia residents who are eligible for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to claim and receive the maximum credit to which they are entitled.The EITC is a federal tax credit that benefits low to moderate income working individuals and families. The average benefit is over $2,400 in Philadelphia.  An estimated 40,000 Philadelphians are eligible for the EITC but are not filing to receive it. That means nearly $100 million in lost EITC benefits in Philadelphia annually.The Department of Revenue has partnered with the Campaign for Working Families (www.cwfphilly.org) to offer increased free tax preparation assistance to qualifying individuals and individuals and families. The Department is also sponsoring three tax drop sites at the Department of Revenue Office Locations:

• Municipal Services Building
• North Philadelphia satellite office
• Northeast Philadelphia satellite office (upcoming in March)

Drop sites allow qualifying taxpayers to simply drop off their tax documentation and pick up their completed return at a later date.For more information on EITC and the free tax preparation locations and hours of operation, please visit www.phila.gov/revenue/EITC or call (215) 686-9200.