It is no secret that tax time can be stressful. Will we have to pay more or get a refund? Will the refund be enough to pay the bills or just hold off the wolves at the door for another month? Over 40,000 people in Central Oregon are receiving SNAP benefits (food stamps) today and thousands more just barely hanging on. For these families, federal tax refunds are critical to their very survival.
For this very reason, Partnership to End Poverty (The Partnership), will once again offer free tax preparation clinics from February 1 to April 15 across Central Oregon. Certified volunteers will help those who need assistance to electronically file both Federal and State tax returns for FREE and, as eligible, claim tax refunds that benefit local families and the local economy.
“For a lot of people, their federal refund is a lifeline,” says Sarah Holtzclaw of Partnership to End Poverty. “Getting the tax return filed as soon as possible is critical. We want to help them do that while allowing them keep as much of their money as possible.”
Holtzclaw says that The Partnership’s goals are to help Central Oregonians receive a much of a return as they deserve and to keep it for themselves. This includes the savings from the free preparation, increasing the number of people filing and receiving the Earn Income Tax Credit if they qualify, and limiting the number of people applying for high cost refund loan products.
Appointments are being taken now at the numbers listed below:
Bend Downtown Library Wednesday 10am-5pm & Saturday 12pm-5pm, 541-504-1389
Bend Campus – COCC Sunday 12pm-6pm, 541-504-1389
Redmond Lynch Elem Mon/Wed 4pm-7pm, 541-504-1389
Prineville COIC Saturdays, Feb 4-25, March 3, 17, 31 and April 14 541- 447-3260
“We are also encouraging everyone to get a bank account before they file if they don’t already have one,” said Holtzclaw. “It only takes seven to ten working days to have a return directly deposited into a bank account. People should contact local banks or credit unions about a free or low-cost Bank on Central Oregon account. It will only save them time and money.”
Visit www.takecredit.org for more information.
AARP TaxAide also offers free tax preparation throughout the region. For information on those sites, please visit the TaxAide locator at http://www.aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/searchTaxAideLocations.action
