Cities offer free tax preparation for low- and moderate-income workers

• Volunteers will be taking appointments for sessions beginning Monday, Jan. 14, by phone: 513-3160.

• Sessions will be scheduled Jan. 21-March 31; Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at the Lewiston Multi-Purpose Center and Tuesdays at Auburn Hall.

• Bring tax forms (W-2s, 1099s, 1098s, Form 8332s, etc.), Social Security numbers for filers and co-filers, valid picture IDs and account information for direct deposit.

Wiser use of

refunds

urged

LEWISTON – Organizers of a low-income tax preparation program hope people start thinking of income tax refunds as a stake in their future, not a bonus.

“It is your money, money that you’ve actually earned,” said Jackie Wiegleb of Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Maine on Tuesday. “Often, people like to use their tax refund to pay up their bills or buy a big-screen TV, like it’s some bonus they’ve won. We’d like them to start using it build their future.”

Financial education, financial planning and credit building will be as big a part of the Take the Money, You Earned It program as income tax preparation this year, according to organizers. Representatives from both cities, the Chamber of Commerce and the Annie E. Casey Foundation announced sites and scheduling for the program this year.

A coalition of tax preparers, IRS and city of Lewiston officials began offering the program in 2004 as a way to encourage low-income residents to apply for the tax credit. It’s saved an estimated $3.8 million in state and federal taxes.

Volunteers will be on hand at Multi-Purpose Center in Lewiston and Auburn Hall beginning Jan. 21 to help low- and moderate-income residents prepare their taxes and apply for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit program. That’s a federal benefit for certain low- and moderate-income workers that can reduce income taxes by up to $4,716.

Financial professionals will be on hand, too, to help people use tax refunds wisely. Wiegleb suggested putting the money aside for an emergency.

“If you have money set aside, you might not have to do a pay-day loan,” she said. “You have a fund to pay for emergency car repairs, or fill the heating oil tank.”

Florence Young, social worker for Casey Family Services, said her foundation is offering similar tax preparation programs around Maine this year. Tax preparation sessions will be offered in Franklin, York, Penobscot and Piscataquis counties, Portland, Calais and Bath-Brunswick.