Community Benefits

Image of a couple and two children.

In addition to preparing and filing tax returns, Tax Help New Mexico volunteers provide information about provisions of the tax code such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)—a federal credit worth up to $6,269 for qualified low-to-moderate income workers. By ensuring that residents claim all of the tax refunds and credits they are entitled to, Tax Help New Mexico volunteers are helping to boost the state’s overall economy.

Benefits to the Economy

In 2017, $20 million was returned to New Mexico’s economy through CNM’s TAX HELP New Mexico. Experts estimate that money returned to the economy from tax refunds and credits is turned over two-to-three times.

Benefits to Low-Income and Elderly Residents

Tax Help New Mexico serves the state’s low-income and elderly residents by providing free tax return preparation and helping citizens claim all of the tax refunds and credits to which they are entitled.

Benefits to CNM Students

The CNM students who serve as volunteer tax preparers gain valuable work experience. These students gain the necessary knowledge to earn Internal Revenue Service (IRS) certification as tax preparers, a designation that many employers look for when hiring. A number of Tax Help New Mexico volunteers have gone on to work for the IRS and the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, launching careers that allow them to contribute even more to the state’s economy.