Free Tax Help Available to Low-Income Elgin Area Residents
Friday January 13th, 2012
Families struggling just to make ends meet shouldn’t have to pay to get their tax refund, and, in Illinois, they don’t – thanks to a partnership with the Center for Economic Progress (CEP), United Way of Elgin, Gail Borden Public Library and Grand Victoria Foundation. This tax season, CEP will make filing taxes less taxing by bringing its award-winning free tax preparation service to the Elgin community.
Families who earned less than $50,000 and individuals who earned less than $25,000 in 2011 are eligible for CEP’s services.
Those interested in having their taxes prepared should bring the following items with them to the tax sites:
- All W-2 and 1099 forms
- Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) for all family members
- Valid photo ID; copy of last year’s tax return
- Copy of most recent property tax bill
- Bank account number and routing number for direct deposit of refund
- The amount spent on college expenses.
Tax help details:
- Where: Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Avenue
- Dates: Saturday, January 21, 2012 to April 14, 2012.
- Weekday times: Monday, Wednesday Thursday, 5:30 PM to 8 PM; (closed on Thursdays after February 23rd)
- Weekend times: Saturdays, 1 PM to 5 PM
- For shorter wait times, visit in March.
“Free tax services help low-wage families keep and save more of their hard-earned money. Through our partnership with the Center for Economic Progress, we’re able to help the low-income families in our community get their tax refund quickly and completely, save more of their hard-earned money and put it to good use by saving some of it right at the tax site,” said Lynne Bosley, President of United Way of Elgin.
For families struggling under the weight of holiday bills as well as rising heating and gas prices, their tax refund is likely the largest lump sum they will receive all year. It is often their best chance to stop the cycle of debt in its tracks thanks largely to credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), worth up to $5,751 this year.
A family’s tax refund also offers a chance to put some money into savings. To help families looking to save their tax refund for a rainy day, CEP is partnering with local banks and credit unions to help clients access low-to-no fee checking and savings accounts. At the Elgin tax site, clients will be able to receive their refunds on a prepaid debit card. Elgin clients can also receive free help with filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)—taking aim at a major barrier to success for low-income and first-generation college students by helping them obtain need-based financial aid.
For more information, please call (888) 827-8511 or TTY (312) 701-1326, or visit www.economicprogress.org. All tax sites are ADA accessible.
