Center for Economic Progress



The Center for Economic Progress (CEP) is a non-profit organization based in Chicago that offers free tax preparation and financial services to low-income families. Since its founding in 1990, CEP has helped families obtain $400 million in refunds.

Services
As part of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, CEP provides free tax preparation at sites in Chicago and surrounding Illinois during tax season to families that earn under $50,000 annually or individuals who earn under $25,000. It also promoted the 2010 US Census at its tax sites in neighborhoods that showed especially low response rates in 2000.

CEP employs approximately 50 staff members and recruits more than one thousand volunteer tax preparers each year.