As you know, one of the reasons why we started Social Media Philanthropy was to help give a voice to and amplify the reach for various causes and charities. In some cases we highlight companies that are doing socially responsible things or sponsoring, participating or promoting activities that give back. For this reason we are reposting a press release sent to us. I, Jeff Gibbard, am not a big Pro-Military guy, but I do respect the sacrifice that soldiers make and the often difficult transition back to civilian life. For this reason I put my support behind this initiative and I hope you will get involved.
Press release reposted without modification except for formatting.
TurboTax to Match up to $1 Million to Help Veterans, Military Families Facing Financial Hardship
SAN DIEGO and ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 13, 2012 – America’s servicemen and women face hardships at home as well as overseas. The car breaks down. An unexpected expense cuts into rent money. A medical bill means there is less to put toward food or utilities.
To help veterans and active duty military win the financial battle at home, TurboTax® and Operation Homefront have launched Mission2Match (www.mission2match.com), a cooperative fundraising effort to support troops and their families facing money emergencies. TurboTax is the nation’s leading tax software and Operation Homefront is a charitable organization that provides emergency financial support and assistance to America’s servicemen and women.
Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU), maker of TurboTax and the Intuit Financial Freedom Foundation will match up to $1 million for donations made now through April 15, 2013.
“Tax time is when many Americans are most focused on their charitable giving, and we’re grateful that TurboTax has taken an innovative approach to provide significant and meaningful assistance to military families,” said Jim Knotts, president and chief executive officer of Operation Homefront. “We’ve found that many people want to support our service members, but don’t always know how. By combining their technology and huge public reach, TurboTax is giving their customers the opportunity to provide that support exactly when it is most on their minds.
How to give
TurboTax Online customers will be given the opportunity to donate from within the product after they’ve completed their taxes. Donations also will be accepted at www.mission2match.com. Only donations made through the Mission2Match campaign are eligible for matching. Donations will be matched a second time when donors tweet (#mission2match) via Twitter and share the opportunity to give with their social network.
“We’re proud to support our troops,” said Dan Maurer, senior vice president and general manager of Intuit’s Consumer Group. “TurboTax has a long history of supporting the military and many of our employees have served our country. We’re asking our customers to join us and give generously to support U.S. servicemen and women and their families.”
Free Tax Filing for Junior Enlisted
TurboTax has also released a new product to further support U.S. troops. TurboTax Military Edition is personalized to the specific needs of military filers and was created by active, reserve and retired military personnel and military spouses to address the specific challenges that come with being a military tax filer.
With step-by-step guidance to help them claim every deduction and credit they’re entitled to, TurboTax Military Edition guides customers through everything from state of residency and filing in multiple states to combat pay as well as tax deductions for uniforms, relocation, PCS and special provisions for the earned income tax credit – helping them keep more of what’s theirs. Junior enlisted personnel, rank E-1 to E-5, can prepare and file their federal and state tax returns with TurboTax Military Edition for free, through Feb. 14, 2013.
TurboTax CPAs are available year round to provide expert, one-on-one personalized answers to tax questions. Intuit, a 2010 Secretary of Defense Freedom Award winner and G.I. Jobs Top 100 employer, has hired veterans and military spouses with expertise in military taxes so that customers using TurboTax Military Edition have experts in their corner who personally understand their situation.
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About Operation Homefront
A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront has a nationwide presence and has met more than 590,000 needs of military families since its inception in 2002. A four-star rated charity by watchdog Charity Navigator, nationally, 94 percent of total revenue donated to Operation Homefront goes directly to assist service members. For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net.
About TurboTax
TurboTax is the nation’s No. 1 rated, best-selling, do-it-yourself tax preparation software. Available on desktop, online and mobile, TurboTax helps more than 25 million people keep more of their hard-earned money. For more information, visit the TurboTax press room, like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/turbotax, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/turbotax, or visit our blog, Tax Break: The TurboTax Blog, at blog.turbotax.intuit.com/.
About Intuit
Intuit Inc. is a leading provider of business and financial management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses; financial institutions, including banks and credit unions; consumers and accounting professionals. Its flagship products and services, including QuickBooks®, Quicken® and TurboTax®, simplify small business management and payroll processing, personal finance, and tax preparation and filing. ProSeries® and Lacerte® are Intuit’s leading tax preparation offerings for professional accountants. Intuit Financial Services helps banks and credit unions grow by providing on-demand solutions and services that make it easier for consumers and businesses to manage their money.
Founded in 1983, Intuit had annual revenue of $4.15 billion in its fiscal year 2012. The company has approximately 8,000 employees with major offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and other locations. More information can be found at www.intuit.com.
Intuit and the TurboTax logo, among others, are registered trademarks and/or registered service marks of Intuit Inc. in the United States and other countries. Live tax advice is a free service available year round via phone or live chat. Restrictions apply. Experience levels, hours of operation and availability vary and are subject to change without notice. See www.turbotax.com for details.