Kevin Green, right, provides tax counseling and help with filing 2010 tax returns Saturday at the Eastgate Town Center. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is targeting at least 5,000 low-income, elderly and disabled Hamilton County taxpayers for help in the next three months at 13 area sites.With higher heating and Christmas bills coming due this month, Keith and Beth Harris were among the first of those filing 2010 tax returns Saturday with the help of volunteer tax preparers.
The refund check and earned income tax credit for the Cleveland, Tenn., family are "something we look forward to every year," Ms. Harris said.
"Coming right after Christmas, we usually need the money," she said at the opening of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program at the Eastgate Town Center on Saturday. "I really need this [refund] this year to help me move to Indiana to take care of my grandfather after a death in my family."
The Harrises are among 5,000 low-income, disabled or elderly taxpayers whom local VITA organizers hope to help file returns and get refunds this year. Over the next three months, 30 IRS-trained volunteers will offer assistance at 13 Hamilton County sites. The service allows taxpayers to file their returns electronically to get refund checks, in most instances, within the next week.
"Our goal is to help get at least $5 million in refunds due to those who come to us for assistance," said Ron Loving, vice chairman of the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga, which is coordinating the local volunteer tax assistance.
Across Tennessee, VITA volunteers helped more than 64,000 people file tax returns last year. Chattanooga has had one of the fastest-growing programs in recent years, IRS Senior Manager Bill Pykosh told volunteers during a kickoff ceremony Saturday.
Nationwide, more than 3 million tax returns were prepared at 12,000 volunteer-staffed sites last year.
"Most lower-income filers who worked some part of last year will qualify for the earned income tax credit, which can top out over $5,600 this year," IRS spokesman Dan Boone said.
Individuals who earned less than $13,460 or married couples with three or more children who earned up to $48,362 can qualify for the earned income tax credit.
Filers should bring W-2 and 1099 forms, Social Security cards and all income and deduction information for the 2010 tax year, Boone said.
Kevin Green, a 36-year-old real estate agent in Brainerd, joined the volunteer tax preparers to honor a New Year's resolution to do more volunteer work. After spending nearly 40 hours in IRS training, Green said he plans to donate at least four hours a week until the April 18 filing deadline.
"I've worked as a professional tax preparer in the past, but this year I decided to volunteer my efforts to help out other people," he said. "It's great to be able to help people get some extra money back on their returns."
GET TAX HELP
• Eastgate City Center, Brainerd: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday and Thursday; 9 a.m.-noon Tuesday and Thursday; 6-9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
• Brainerd Recreation Complex, 1010 N. Moore Road: 4-8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
• Chattanooga State, Albright Complex B Wing: 2-4 p.m. Monday and Thursday
• Northgate Mall: 1-6 p.m. Monday, noon-4 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
• Silver Life Center, 1401 W. M.L. King Blvd.: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday
• Urban League, 730 M.L. King Blvd.: 2-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
• Church Koinonia Federal Credit Union by appointment. Call 629-5400
• Lone Oak Community Center by appointment. Call 280-1394
• Northside Neighborhood House by appointment. Call 267-2217
• Seventh-day Adventist Church in Collegedale by appointment. Call 396-2134
• Soddy-Daisy Senior Center by appointment. Call 332-1706
• For areas outside Hamilton County, call the IRS toll-free at 1-800-906-9887.