CSC Sponsoring Free Tax Help Starting in February

CSC will be sponsoring free Tax-Aide for qualified individuals starting on February 1st at various locations in Linn and Benton county. Those that qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) are especially encouraged to take advantage of free tax return preparation and e-filing.

EITC qualifications include:

• U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent Resident
• Valid social security number
• Earned income during 2012:
• $45,060 ($50,270 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children
• $41,952 ($47,162 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children
• $36,920 ($42,130 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child
• $13,980 ($19,190 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children

EITC amounts can range from $1 to $5,891.

For information on location, dates and times, as well as the number to call to make an appointment, please visit the 2013 site schedule here.

Get Your Taxes Done For FREE / Access EITC

File your taxes for FREE and access the Earned Income Tax Credit – a refundable federal income tax credit for eligible low-income working individuals and families.

If you worked during 2011, and your household earned income was less than $49,078 you may be eligible to claim and receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) of up to $5,751*

How Do I Qualify for EITC? Be a U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident; Have a valid Social security number; Earned income during 2011; Earned less than $49,078 (total household) in 2011; EITC refund amounts can range from $1 to $5,751

What Should I Bring With Me? People should bring their Social Security Card or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number for each family member, W-2 forms for all jobs worked in 2011, all 1099 forms for other income, all 1098 E & T forms for education expenditures, childcare provider information, picture identification and a copy of their 2010 income tax return.
For more information: Call (541) 602-5829

To access free, on-line tax filing services, and access the Earned Income Tax Credit, please go to: www.communityservices.us/aarp_tax_aide.htm

To see list of free tax aid places to visit, please go to http://www.communityservices.us/documents/CompassSpring2012.pdf

Free Help With Tax Returns Sponsored by RSVP

RSVP sponsored AARP Volunteers, trained by the IRS will prepare Federal and State Income Tax returns until April 15th. This service is free of charge for middle and lower income persons of all ages in:

LINN COUNTY
Albany Senior Center
489 Water Avenue NW
Albany. Mon. & Wed:
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Walk-in only.
(541)917-7760

Lebanon Senior Center
Appointments Only
(541) 258-4919
585 Park Street, Lebanon
Wed. & Thurs: 10:00 a.m. -
4:00 p.m., Wed
evening 4:30-7:30 pm

Sweet Home Library
1101 13th Ave., Sweet Home.
Appointments only, call
(541) 367-5007
Tues: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Sat: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Appointments only.

BENTON COUNTY
Corvallis
Corvallis Senior Center
Appointments only, call
(541) 766-6704
2601 NW Tyler Street,
Corvallis Mon.,Wed. & Fri:
10:00 am - 3:00 pm,
Wed. 5:30 pm- 8:30 pm

Corvallis Library
Walk-in
645 NW Monroe Ave,
Corvallis
Tues. & Thurs:
11:00 am- 3:00 pm
(541 ) 766-6704

Tax Aid
at 974 NW Circle
Blvd., Corvallis
Walk-in only
Mon: 11:00 am -5:00 pm,
Tues: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm,
Thurs:11:00 am - 5:00 pm,
Fri:11 am - 7:00 pm.
Sat: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Philomath Library
Appointments only, call
(541) 766-6704
1050 Applegate St., Philomath.
Thurs., Fri., & Sat:
10:00 am - 3:00 pm

LINCOLN COUNTY
Newport Senior Center
20 SE 2nd Street, Newport,
Walk-in only
Wed. & Fri: 9 am - 2 pm,
(541) 265-9617.

Lincoln City Community Center
Call (541) 996-1245.
2150 Oar Street, Lincoln
City, Walk in; preference
given to age 60 and over.
Tues. & Thrs: 9 am - 12 pm,
Sat: 9 am - 12 pm

Waldport
Washington Federal Savings
325 NW Hemlock
Walk-in only
Tues. & Wed. 10 am - 2 pm
(541) 563-3226

File Your 2009 Tax & Get Cash Back - It's that Easy

This article was originally published in the Vol. 17, Number 1, February 2010, issue of CSC's the Compass.

Learn about 2009 tax credits and free ways to file:

What is the EITC, and how can it help me?
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is for people who work and meet certain income guideline. You may get money back when you file your taxes and keep more of what you earned. It can make a big difference!

Learn more details and file your tax credits at a free tax assistance site near you. You may even get credits for the last two years.

How much money can I get back?
Your EITC check depends mainly on your family size and your 2009 earned income. If your family has three or more qualifying children and you earned less than $43,279, then you can get up to $5,657. If your family has two or more qualifying children and you earned less than $40,295, then you can get up to $5,028. If your family has one qualifying children and you earned less than $35,463, then you can get up to $3,043. If your family has no qualifying children and you earned less than $13,440, then you can get up to $457.

Note: Alimony and child support payments do not count towards income.

How do I know if I qualify for EITC?• You must have worked and earned income
• You must have a valid Social Security number
• You cannot be counted as a “child” by someone else

A “qualifying child” can be your...
Biological or adopted child, stepchild, foster child, brother or sister, stepbrother or stepsister, ...or the children of any of these people. A “child” must be younger than the person claiming the child; not have filed a joint return other than to claim a refund; and under 19 unless they are a full-time student or
permanently or totally disabled

What if I don’t owe any tax?
No problem. You can still get the tax credits.

Will the EITC affect my benefits?
Generally, no. The credit does not count as income for Medicaid, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or federally-assisted housing programs.

Retroactive EITC
If you qualified for EITC in previous years but didn’t file or claim the credit, you can still file or amend incorrectly filed tax returns for the previous two years to claim a refund.

Where to go for more information:
If you think you might qualify for the EITC and would like to check your qualifications, you can:
• Go to the IRS website at www.irs.gov and select “EIC Assistant” under Online Services
• Try the EITC eligibility calculator at www.cbpp.org

To find free online tax filing tools and tax preparation services:
• Go to the IRS website at www.irs.gov and select “Check Out Free File” for a list of free on-line tools.
• Try the ICAN! EFILE free on-line tool at www.icanefile.org. (Available in English and Spanish.)

Volunteers Provide Free Assistance with Income Taxes

The AARP Tax-Aide program has trained and certified volunteers who will prepare and file your federal income tax return with the IRS, free of charge. The volunteers are available to help taxpayers of all ages between February 1 and April 15, 2010. All of the tax returns are prepared on computers and are e-filed free.

The volunteers are working out of eight locations across Benton and Linn counties, and four of the eight locations are available by appointment only. Two are walk-in locations, including the newest site, the Main Albany Library. As a new location, it hasn’t been discovered yet, and volunteers are waiting to help the early birds that get their taxes done in February.

Bring these items when you visit an AARP Tax-Aide site:
• Social Security cards or other official documentation for yourself and all dependents;
• Copy of last year’s income tax returns;
• W-2 forms from each employer;
• Unemployment compensation statements;
• 1099 forms
• All forms indicating federal income tax paid;
• Child care provider information (name, employer ID, Social Security number);
• Summary of receipts or checks for deductible items if itemizing;

In 2008, more than 50 Tax-Aide volunteers filed more than 3,600 federal and state tax returns, with an earned income credit value of $800,722 within Benton and Linn Counties. The AARP Tax-Aide is locally sponsored by CSC's own RSVP and its partner locations.

Don't Forget the Earned Income Tax Credit

Every penny counts in today’s economy, yet many working people are overlooking an important tax credit that could put up to $5,600 or more in their pockets. The Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, can be the needed financial boost for working people hit by hard economic times.

Many people will qualify for EITC for the first time this year because their income declined, their marital status changed or they added children to their families. Families with three or more children get an extra boost with a larger credit this year.

But, IRS estimates that up to one in four eligible taxpayers could miss out because they don't check it out. Eligible taxpayers can get their EITC only if they file federal income tax returns – even if they are not otherwise required to file – and specifically claim the credit.

Anyone with income under $48,000 from wages, self-employment or farming in 2009, should see if they qualify. Area residents can find more information on the IRS website, keyword: EITC. IRS’s online EITC Assistant can help determine their eligibility and compute the amount of their credit.

Taxpayers also can get no-cost help computing their EITC and preparing their returns. Residents can locate a volunteer assistance site by calling (enter which number your community uses for local services -- 211 or 311) or calling the IRS at 1-800-906-9887. Free help is also available at the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center located at (enter the location and days/hour of assistance of your local IRS office)