Free Tax Preparation Ends April 15
Thirty days and counting—that is how many days you have left if you want to have your income taxes prepared for free.
What do you need to do? Be a low-income family or individual and call 2-1-1 to make an appointment.
That’s what Valencia Park resident Elizabeth Contreras did. Contreras and her husband, Juan Gomez, made an appointment at the Jacobs Center, where Home Start, Inc. offers free tax preparation services.
“It’s a great program,” said Contreras.
Contreras and Gomez both work cleaning houses and have used the free service for the past three years, saving about $300 dollars. “It’s a lot of help for people like us.”
Launched in late January, the free tax preparation service will continue through April 15. About 400 volunteers donate their time to help low-income residents prepare and file their taxes at about 100 locations throughout the region. All income taxes are filed electronically, which means people can get their return in as little as two weeks. Residents can call 2-1-1 to make an appointment at a location near them.
The County and its partners, including United Way, the IRS, and AARP, launched the free tax preparation services in 2003. The goal was to help people file their income taxes for free and also claim their Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
Established in 1975, EITC is the federal government’s largest cash assistance program designed to lift low-income families and individuals out of poverty.
About $70 million EITC dollars go unclaimed each year by San Diego County low-income residents.
Individuals and families who worked in 2012 and earned less than $50,300 could qualify for as much as $5,891 in EITC. Residents must file a tax return to be eligible.
In 2012, more than 46,000 federal and state returns were filed through the County’s EITC campaign, bringing a total of $48 million to working families and the local economy. More than $10 million were EITC dollars.
Most people who use the service are aware their taxes will be prepared for free. However, some are shocked to learn it won’t cost them a penny.
“They are very appreciative when we tell them there is no fee,” said Oneida Ramirez, program coordinator for Home Start, Inc., adding they prepared about 320 returns at the Jacobs Center last month alone. “It’s really cool they get to keep all their return and take it all home.”