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Campaign Helps Marylanders Pay Millions Less in Tax

February 2, 2026   |   Alex Likowski

“The Earned Income Tax Credit [EITC] and other tax credits help put money back in people’s pockets, and it helps lift people and families out of poverty,” said Sara Johnson, MSW ’02, co-founder and chief operating officer of the Maryland CASH Campaign. “With this money, we know that families know what to do with it. They pay their bills, they pay their rent, they pay for hopefully fun things to do with their family, too, right? Not just all the bills, but hopefully some fun things, too. So, we need your help to get the word out. Because every year more and more families are eligible for the service, and we want to make sure that they hear how to get connected to the work that we do here.”

Johnson was addressing a crowded room at the Íøºì±¬ÁÏ, Baltimore (UMB) Community Engagement Center (CEC) at the CASH Campaign of Maryland’s annual kickoff event. Each year, the CASH Campaign (an acronym for Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) coordinates community partners and policymakers to serve tens of thousands of Marylanders with services like free income tax assistance, education, and coaching.

“Last year in the Baltimore area, we served over 8,000 families, and this resulted in over $19 million in refunds and tax credits going back into this community and to the families here in Baltimore,” Johnson added.

The EITC is a substantial but often overlooked  federal tax benefit available to low- and moderate-income taxpayers. It’s just one of the ways the CASH Campaign helps residents save money at tax time. And the group is working with lawmakers to broaden support for taxpayers facing high and rising costs, particularly in an urban area like Baltimore.

“I’m working on three pieces of legislation,” U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, of the 7th Congressional District, told the audience. “The Earned Income Tax Credit Modernization Act, because it’s been around for a while, and if it’s not modernized to take into account all of the things that are happening out here in the country, we tend to be working on old rules and old playbooks. The Lower Your Taxes Act of 2026, and the American Family Act of 2025. Working families deserve, as you heard, a tax code that is fair, particularly when we see what’s happening to the IRS.”

Mfume’s colleague from Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski, agreed. “Whether it’s gas or groceries, whether it’s what people are paying in housing or child care, what people are paying for electricity, people are struggling to get by,” he said.

All week at the CEC, staff and volunteers from the CASH Campaign had been helping taxpayers reduce their tax burden, often receiving unexpected refunds, and to offer guidance for financial wellness. Last year, the CASH Campaign helped file more than 17,000 returns for Marylanders, yielding more than $28 million in tax credits. Putting that money back in Marylanders’ pockets and bolstering local economies is something Maryland’s chief financial officer, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, has worked for since 2016 when she joined the state legislature.

“This money can be used for things that we know it’s needed for, whether that’s making sure your car can work so you can get to a job that’s a little farther away, maybe it’s making sure you have fun so that you can send your kids to camp during the summer so you can keep working,” Lierman said. “Maybe it’s going to get your certification at BCCC [Baltimore City Community College] or CCBC [Community College of Baltimore County] so that you can start earning more. The impact of this program really extends far beyond tax policy. It represents a commitment as a state government to help our residents build strong foundations for the future.”

The CASH Campaign of Maryland offers tax help throughout the season. Get more information at or call the CASH Campaign at 410-528-8006. To watch the entire kickoff event, please use the link at the top of this page.