Fri., Jan. 29, was Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day, and the Lower East Side People’s Federal Credit Union took the opportunity to highlight its free tax-preparation services for low-income residents. The credit union, at Avenue B and Third St., is a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, site, and since 2003, has helped 11,000 people do their taxes at no cost. State Senator Dan Squadron, Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh and Fran Freedman, associate commissioner at the Department of Consumer Affairs, stressed the importance of low-income residents availing themselves of the earned income tax credit. Freedman added she hoped residents would open accounts when they stop in for tax help. “This may be the magic moment when we can encourage them to save in a safe account,” she said. Low-income residents generally have a hard time saving.
