LTC 284-2017 City Receives Two Awards for its Tax Preparation ServicesMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC# 284-2017 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Members of he City Co
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: May 26, 2017
SUBJECT: City Receives Two Awards for its ax Preparation Services
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to advise the Mayor and Commission that the
Internal Review Service has recognized the City for its efforts to provide free tax preparation
services to our residents awarding the City two national honors.
The City's Office of Housing and Community Services (HCS) has provided free tax preparation
services to our residents since 2012. Each year, the City has grown the number of people it has
been able to serve. This year, the City's growth rate hit 31.6 percent above last year's
performance. The City served 247 clients, up from 183 at the end of last tax season. The growth
rate was among the highest in the country and was notable as new tax software was
implemented this year.
The Internal Review Service (IRS) reached out to staff to learn how the City achieved this
growth and will be utilizing the Office of Housing and Community Services as a best practice
site. Special note was made of the community outreach efforts led by the Office of
Communications which helped promote tax services through social media, online and print
materials. As noted last month, the IRS nominated the City for three awards given nationally by
the agency. The City was awarded two: Partner Innovation and Community Involvement. The
IRS awards recognize the most outstanding volunteer tax preparation sites within the 50 states.
The Partner Innovation Award showcases efforts to develop innovative ways to reach
taxpayers. The City, through HCS and the Office of Communications, undertook a coordinated
outreach campaign targeted families through various City programs utilizing the City's multiple
social media platforms.
The Community Involvement Award highlights partners who have excelled in reaching out to the
broadest array of community stakeholders including those who are digitally disconnected, poor,
disabled, of limited English proficiency and the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
communities. The City leveraged its ACCESS Florida site resources to engage low-income and
elder residents as they accessed other services.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Maria Ruiz, Director, Office of Housing
and Community Services.
JLM/KGB/MLR