Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

| 05 March 2009

Last year EOC filed a return for a low-income family who had been told the previous year by paid tax preparers that they didn’t qualify for the EITC. “The VITA volunteer showed me that we had lost out on $3,500.00 that year,” the woman said. With the help of the VITA volunteer, the family received the EITC owed from the previous year as well as the current year. “What was awesome was the volunteer stayed late and everything was triple-checked to make sure we got the maximum amount owed to us,” said the woman. She and her family of eight wound up with a $5,000 refund check that they used to pay bills and buy a much-needed secondhand car. Which brings up another benefit to having more people utilize the EITC – the refunded dollars are typically circulated in the local economy, providing a significant stimulus to local businesses and governments.

Free income tax assistance is available through the following organizations:

EOC and United Way offer assistance by appointment through April 4 at locations in Grover Beach, San Luis Obispo, and Paso Robles. Call 805-549-7684 for more information or to make an appointment.

Cal Poly offers walk-in only assistance Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business through March 14. For exact location or more information, call Norinne at 805-756-2667.

AARP offers assistance to senior citizens by appointment through April 10. Call 805-540-3802 for more information or to make an appointment.