Family Services
Free Tax Prep Los Angeles:
Helping Working Families Keep More of What They Earn
Nearly 1 in 7 children in the U.S. live in poverty, with younger children (under age 5) experiencing even higher poverty rates. This critical period of early development is when poverty’s negative effects are most pronounced, impacting long-term well-being. Tragically, children of color are disproportionately affected, contributing to persistent racial wealth gaps and systemic inequalities. These impacts don’t just harm individuals but also create significant economic costs for society as a whole.
About Free Tax Prep Los Angeles (FTPLA)
The Free Tax Prep Los Angeles campaign is dedicated to educating working Angelenos about the tax credits available to them, including the Federal and State of California Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit.
The Earned Income Tax Credit is one of the most powerful federal programs designed to reduce poverty and provide financial support to low-income workers. FTPLA helps individuals and families access these crucial credits while offering IRS-certified volunteers to provide free tax preparation services at community locations across Los Angeles.
FTPLA is a joint initiative brought together by the City of Los Angeles Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD), the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA), Watts Community Action Committee, and United Way of Greater Los Angeles.
Why Pay to File? Get Your Taxes Done for FREE!
If your annual income is under $67,000, you may be eligible for up to $11,000 in combined federal and state tax credits through the Cal EITC and Federal EITC. But to claim this benefit, you must file your taxes – and FTPLA can help you do it for free. Why pay for tax preparation when IRS-certified volunteers can file your return at no cost to you?
Maximize Your Refund with EITC and CalEITC
Here’s a quick breakdown of the maximum tax credits available for different income levels:
Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
No children: Max income $24,210, EITC up to $600
1 child: Max income $53,120, EITC up to $3,995
2 children: Max income $59,478, EITC up to $6,604
3 or more children: Max income $63,398, EITC up to $7,490
Child Tax Credit (up to $2,000 per child)
Maximum amounts vary depending on the number of children and income.
California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC)
No children: Max income $30,950, CalEITC up to $285
1 child: Max income $30,950, CalEITC up to $1,900
2 children: Max income $30,950, CalEITC up to $3,137
3 or more children: Max income $30,950, CalEITC up to $3,529
What You’ll Need to Get Started
To ensure your taxes are filed correctly and you receive your refund quickly, please bring the following documents to your tax appointment:
Photo ID for all taxpayers
Social Security cards/ITIN letters for everyone listed on your return
Birthdates for all listed individuals
Income statements (W-2s, 1099s, Social Security, unemployment, pensions, interest, etc.)
Self-employment records (income and expenses)
Other deductions (tuition, student loan interest, mortgage interest, etc.)
Health insurance forms (1095-A for Covered California)
Bank account info for direct deposit (routing and account numbers)
Schedule Your Tax Appointment Today!
Take advantage of free tax preparation services at two convenient locations:
VITA Site: WLCAC- SELA FamilySource Center
Location: 5860 Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90011
Call: 323-923-1479
VITA Site: WLCAC- Watts FamilySource Center
Location: 1212 E 108th St, Los Angeles, CA 90059
Call: 323-357-6262
Don’t miss out on your hard-earned tax credits—schedule your appointment today and make the most of your refund!
Director’s Message
Welcome to the Family Services Page!
The WLCAC Family Services Division takes pride in delivering only the highest level of quality service, providing personal attention, patience, a strong work ethic, and a people-first attitude. For nearly 30 years, WLCAC has provided coordinated human services for low-income residents living in Watts and surrounding communities. Thanks to my dedicated, passionate, and talented staff and trusted community partners, Family Services will continue to find the best ways to bring necessary resources to meet the immediate needs of our clients and find long-term solutions to challenges the residents of our community are facing.
Our team’s commitment to the community is astonishing to me, watching them take the time to listen, confirm, recommend, and follow through with everyone who walks through our doors is a testament to our mission in action. Our staff treats each client the same way they would like to be treated if they were in the same situation, with empathy and respect. When you have a team of caring people working toward the same goal, we all win.
-Sheila Thomas
Our Division
Our Family Services division serves as a one stop shop, providing complete wrap-around services to children, families and individuals living in Los Angeles. A majority of our clients are Black and Latino and come from the surrounding Watts and South LA areas, assisting over 12,000 clients and their families annually with a wide array of programs and services.
FamilySource Center
WLCAC’s city-funded Family Source Center (FSC) is one of the highest-performing programs in the City of Los Angeles, operating two FSC sites and continuously exceed our goals serving over 4,000 unduplicated clients each year, from individuals living paycheck to paycheck, to families struggling to pay their rent and put food on the table. We assist clients with obtaining housing, employment, financial literacy, youth enrichment and tutoring, free tax preparation services, vaccination assistance, food, immigration services, legal assistance, mental health services, expungement, post-secondary education, emergency assistance and case management services.
Re-Entry Program
WLCAC’s Re-Entry Program is the largest in Los Angeles County, where we consistently case-manage over 300 clients per month. Over the past five years, our FamilySource Center has provided re-entry intensive case management to over 2,500 justice-involved individuals. This involves creating customized care plans for each client and spending a substantial amount of time with them to fully understand their life history and the road they took that resulted in their incarceration.
Our Impact
We Offer
Employment Prep Services
We screen for WorkSource and YouthSource referral eligibility for job training and placement to provide the following services:
- Resume Building Workshops
- Job Search Support
- Interview Workshops
Financial Education
We provide a financial assessment for clients and help them design a financial plan that will help them budget and build a savings plan. Our financial education programs include:
- Financial Planning
- Financial Literacy Workshops
- Free Tax Preparation Services
Daily Food Pantry
In response to growing concerns over food insecurity in South Los Angeles, our FamilySource Center partnered with Food Forward, supermarkets, and other partners to provide a fully stocked food pantry to ensure community members have equitable access to healthy and nutritious foods.
Immigration Services
WLCAC is proud to serve the undocumented community, providing access to food, resources and services. Our FamilySource Centers offer the following immigration services:
- Citizenship Applications
- Residency Renewals
- DACA Renewals
Outreach
Our outreach staff are critical to informing the community about the various services and are the first point of contact for our Family Source Centers. You can find our team at local events, supermarkets, churches, and community centers informing residents about COVID19 and flu vaccine assistance, our food pantry, free tax services, and more.
Emergency Assistance
We offer emergency assistance to clients through rental relief assistance, obtaining security deposits, utility assistance, providing grocery and gas cards, furniture donation, and relocation support. Our Family Source Center’s goal is to empower our clients to be self-sufficient. We help them achieve that independence by assisting them in paying their bills on time, avoid eviction, and, eventually, become homeowners.
Mental Health Services
In 2022, our FamilySource Center provided 160 individuals with mental health services.
Expungement
In 2022, our FamilySource Center helped 21 individuals seal their criminal records through a process known as expungement.
Post-Secondary Education
In 2022, our FamilySource Center enrolled 49 individuals in post-secondary education.
Address: WLCAC- SELA FamilySource Center
5890 Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90011
Address: WLCAC- Watts FamilySource Center
1212 E 108th St, Los Angeles, CA 90059
Our Team
Sheila Lewis-Thomas, MBA
- Director of Family Services
- sthomas@wlcac.org
Claudia Palacios
- Compliance Director
- cpalacios@wlcac.org
Janay Brooks
Khaila Harris
- Program Manager
- kharris@wlcac.org
Azucena Diaz
- Reentry Deputy Director
- adiaz@wlcac.org
Staff Stories
FSC is an amazing program because everyone here works together to find solutions for anyone who walks through the door.
It’s crazy to think where I was before and where I am now. I’ve learned a lot in the months I’ve been working with WLCAC.
We all fall on hard times, we all struggle, but everyone needs a helping hand.
I lived in Watts, growing up in housing projects that didn't have many positive outlets for youth my age. Since that first day, I would go to the WLCAC-Bridges program daily.
Client Stories
Partner
The Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC) is a groundbreaking and award-winning office that manages the State of California’s highest priority community engagement and public awareness efforts.
Noteworthy Accomplishments
2019-2020
Angeleno Card: We distributed 2,800 cards worth $2,979,700
Mayors Grocery Card: We distributed 167 cards worth $64,900
Change Reaction Grocery Cards: We distributed 150 $100 cards
Angel Fund: We provided $106,454 to people who lost income
WLCAC Grocery Cards: $100,000 (not city funded)
FSC Regular contracted services: enrolled 5,306 clients (2,500 annual goal), increased
client income $4,815,859 ($500,000 annual goal)
2020-2021
FSC Regular contracted services: enrolled 3,871 clients (2,500 annual goal) and
increased client income $2,690,291($500,000 annual goal)
Mayors GIVEN Cards: Provided $350,700
2021-2022
FSC regular contracted services: enrolled 4,793 clients (2,500 annual goal) and
increased client income $1,747,503 ($500,000 annual goal)
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