LEWISTON — This year’s Twin Cities’ income tax filing support program will focus on financial literacy as much as filling out the right forms.
City officials kicked off Take the Money; You’ve Earned on Tuesday morning in Lewiston City Hall.
Volunteers from the Lewiston-Auburn CA$H Coalition will help low- or moderate-income residents with tax forms for the 11th year.
Volunteers will prepare state and federal income tax returns and filling out tax credit applications for qualified taxpayers by appointment Jan. 27 through April 5 in Auburn Hall and Lewiston’s Memorial Armory. Residents interested should call 207-513-3160 to register for an appointment.
The CA$H Coalition has also scheduled a special program from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Lewiston Memorial Armory.
Experts from the Lewiston Housing Authority will be there, helping to coach residents to save more.
“The aim is that, because people can get such large refunds, it’s really important to look toward the future,” Jennifer Allen of the Housing Authority said. “We are going to be at every tax site talking about investing for higher education as well as finding other resources in the community to help you save and grow your money.”
The program encourages residents to file for the earned income tax credit, a federal benefit for low- and moderate-income workers designed to reduce income taxes. To qualify for the EITC, residents cannot make more than $52,427 for a family with three children, married filing jointly. They can qualify for a credit up to $6,143.
Lewiston City Administrator Ed Barrett said every dollar returned to residents is a dollar spent locally, boosting the Twin Cities’ economy.
“This is one thing people can do: Go after that credit because it can give you some control back over your life,” Barrett said. “It can help you deal with the kinds of economic and fiscal situations that people have faced in our country since the recession.”
Residents should bring tax forms (W-2s, 1099s, 1098s, Form 8332s, etc.), Social Security numbers for filers and co-filers, valid picture IDs and bank account information for direct deposit. They should also bring the name and address of their child care provider and the provider’s tax identification number if they are applying for the child and dependent care credit.
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