Tax Preparation Assistance
With the help of dedicated volunteers, taxpayers can receive free tax preparation assistance and financial education during the tax season. The Community Action Partnership of Riverside County and the United Way of the Desert have recruited and trained 140 volunteers to offer weekend and evening hours and bilingual assistance at eleven Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites throughout Riverside County to prepare taxes from January 27 to April 14, 2012.
The desert locations are:
Center for Employment Training in Coachella (49-111 Highway 111, Coachella)
Hours: Wednesday & Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hours: Wednesday & Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Desert Hot Springs Family Resource Center (14-201 Palm Drive, Desert Hot Springs)
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m. to noon
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m. to noon
Blythe Community Center (445 N. Broadway)
Hours: by appointment, 760-922-8830
Hours: by appointment, 760-922-8830
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Anybody with earnings under $49,078 should see if they qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a refundable federal tax credit for working individuals and families. Based on earnings, marital status and whether they have children, taxpayers can receive up to $5,751 in EITC refunds.
Four out of five eligible people claim and get their EITC. The Community Action Partnership of Riverside County and the United Way of the Desert are doing valuable work to raise this number and help ensure that this benefit is not overlooked by qualified residents. Last year, the average EITC credit was $2,100. This is a considerable amount of money on the table that can boost the bottom line of low- and moderate-income working individuals and families here in Riverside County.
To qualify, taxpayers must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if they did not earn enough money to be obligated to file a tax return. The volunteers at the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites can help you claim your EITC.
For more information about the Community Action Partnership’s tax assistance programs, please contact Kathrine Latta at 951-955-4900.
Taxpayer Advocate Service
If you have a tax difficulty with the IRS and have not been able to resolve your problem on your own, you may request the fair, free and independent help of the Taxpayer Advocate Service, who will be your voice at the IRS. The Taxpayer Advocate Service will assign an advocate who is with you at every turn to listen to your tax problem and help you understand what needs to be done to resolve it.