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| Tax Preparation |
PNC will allow those taxpayers to cash their refund checks free of charge at PNC branches up to May 31, or they can request a tax refund debit card that is free of fees within the PNC and Allpoint ATM network, with 46,000 locations.
"The underbanked population is a great challenge," said John Florio, program manager for PNC Community Development Banking. "This is our way of making a difference in their lives."
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates 25.6 percent of U.S. households either do not have a bank account or make little use of it. With 2.1 million people in the metropolitan Pittsburgh area, an estimated 500,000 people here fall into that category.
PNC is working with the IRS, Goodwill Industries, Just Harvest, Allegheny County Community Services and eight volunteer income tax assistance sites in the Pittsburgh area.
Tax preparers also will walk individuals through the process of applying for the earned income tax credit, which could be worth up to $5,100 for low-income people.
In the first year that PNC offered the free tax preparation service on a limited basis in Pittsburgh and Erie, Mr. Florio said the bank issued 25 debit cards and cashed 75 tax refund checks.
Sources: http://www.post-gazette.com
