FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
02/17/2012 Friday
February 17, 2012
Contact:
Douglas Arnold
darnold@uwtb.org
813-274-0951
For Immediate Release
FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES
FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES
AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Trustworthy Services Provided by United Way & Community Partners
(Tampa) Qualified individuals and families can take advantage of a special free service of the Prosperity Campaign of Hillsborough County (in association with United Way of Tampa Bay) that provides access to tax preparation services through www.MyFreeTaxes.com/Tampa . No appointment is necessary, walk ups are welcome, and all services are first come, first served.
From February 20 through March 2, 2012, the MyFreeTaxes.com personnel will be at Potter Elementary in Tampa and the University of South Florida Tampa campus. They are part of a national program where more than 100 community organizations perform outreach, recruit and train volunteers and provide valuable tax preparation services to help others. These partners develop sustainable and economically empowering ways to help clients with the benefits of online tax preparation.
The free tax campaign, now in its fourth year, provides help to individuals and in three distinct ways. People coming in will use computers provided by MyFreeTaxes.com and enter their tax information with guidance from onsite assistants.
• MyFreeTaxes.com National Tour has mobile tax vans crossing the country staffed with IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers. These vans travel the United States to help people file their taxes and maximize their potential refunds.
• This incorporates partnerships with major non-profits to connect community members to local in-person tax help. These are our free local tax help centers.
• The National Disability Institute's Real Economic Impact Tour has built inclusive disability capacity for individuals and organizations to increase accessibility of free tax filing.
This national campaign empowers low and moderate working families and people to access free tax services online at www.MyFreeTaxes.com/Tampa.
Dates, Locations and Hours of Operation
(A) February 20th :
POTTER ELEMENTARY,
3224 E. Cayuga Street,
Tampa, FL 33610
8am-3:30pm
This location will specifically serve families, faculty and staff of Potter Elementary.
(B) February 21ST Through March 2nd *:
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
4202 E. Fowler, Ave.
Tampa, FL 33620
9am-5pm
Follow directional signs on campus
This location is open to students, faculty, and staff within the USF community
*This location will not be open on Feb. 25th or 26th
The 2011 My Free Taxes Campaign is sponsored by the Walmart Foundation. Partners of this campaign include One Economy’s theBeehive.org, the National Disability Institute's Real Economic Impact Tour (REI Tour), and United Way.
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ASSIGNMENT EDITORS NOTE: Before sending a reporter or photographer please contact Carlos Romani- the van driver- at 917-621-5763 or via email at CRomani@gmail.com to coordinate the visit.
FYI for those coming to do their taxes
Items to Bring
• Photo identification
• Social security cards for you, your spouse, and dependents
• Birth dates for taxpayers and the dependents on the tax return
• Current year’s tax package, if you received one
• All W-2 wage and tax statements for the current tax year
• All forms 1099 and other income statements- documenting interest-income, Social Security income, withdrawals from IRA’s, 401k’s, etc.
• Any income not reported on a statement
• Form 1098-Mortgage Interest and Property Taxes- if applicable
• A copy of last year’s Federal tax return
• Other relevant documentation (as applicable):
o Total paid for child care and daycare provider’s identification number and contact information
o Total paid for continuing education (tuition, books, supplies, etc) - shown on form 1098-T or 1098-E. Also 1099 form documenting interest paid on a student loan.
o Business-related expenses, such as mileage, office supplies, advertising (if small-business owner or independent contractor)
o Any notices received from the IRS or state tax office
• FOR DIRECT-DEPOSIT: (fastest way to receive a refund- 7-10 business days as compared to 2-4 weeks for paper checks) Bring a voided check and/or savings account and routing numbers for deposit of refund. NOTE: You can opt to split your refund into up to three different accounts. If you desire to do so, please bring account and routing numbers for all accounts.
• SAVINGS BONDS: Taxpayers now have the option to purchase U.S Series I savings bonds with a portion of their tax refund. Bonds can be purchased in increments of $50 in the taxpayer’s name or in the name of a designated beneficiary. Taxpayers can have the remainder of their refund either direct-deposited into a bank account (must bring account and routing number) or opt to receive it in a paper check.
Contact:
Douglas Arnold
darnold@uwtb.org
813-274-0951
For Immediate Release
FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES
FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES
AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Trustworthy Services Provided by United Way & Community Partners
(Tampa) Qualified individuals and families can take advantage of a special free service of the Prosperity Campaign of Hillsborough County (in association with United Way of Tampa Bay) that provides access to tax preparation services through www.MyFreeTaxes.com/Tampa . No appointment is necessary, walk ups are welcome, and all services are first come, first served.
From February 20 through March 2, 2012, the MyFreeTaxes.com personnel will be at Potter Elementary in Tampa and the University of South Florida Tampa campus. They are part of a national program where more than 100 community organizations perform outreach, recruit and train volunteers and provide valuable tax preparation services to help others. These partners develop sustainable and economically empowering ways to help clients with the benefits of online tax preparation.
The free tax campaign, now in its fourth year, provides help to individuals and in three distinct ways. People coming in will use computers provided by MyFreeTaxes.com and enter their tax information with guidance from onsite assistants.
• MyFreeTaxes.com National Tour has mobile tax vans crossing the country staffed with IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers. These vans travel the United States to help people file their taxes and maximize their potential refunds.
• This incorporates partnerships with major non-profits to connect community members to local in-person tax help. These are our free local tax help centers.
• The National Disability Institute's Real Economic Impact Tour has built inclusive disability capacity for individuals and organizations to increase accessibility of free tax filing.
This national campaign empowers low and moderate working families and people to access free tax services online at www.MyFreeTaxes.com/Tampa.
Dates, Locations and Hours of Operation
(A) February 20th :
POTTER ELEMENTARY,
3224 E. Cayuga Street,
Tampa, FL 33610
8am-3:30pm
This location will specifically serve families, faculty and staff of Potter Elementary.
(B) February 21ST Through March 2nd *:
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
4202 E. Fowler, Ave.
Tampa, FL 33620
9am-5pm
Follow directional signs on campus
This location is open to students, faculty, and staff within the USF community
*This location will not be open on Feb. 25th or 26th
The 2011 My Free Taxes Campaign is sponsored by the Walmart Foundation. Partners of this campaign include One Economy’s theBeehive.org, the National Disability Institute's Real Economic Impact Tour (REI Tour), and United Way.
# # # 30 # # #
ASSIGNMENT EDITORS NOTE: Before sending a reporter or photographer please contact Carlos Romani- the van driver- at 917-621-5763 or via email at CRomani@gmail.com to coordinate the visit.
FYI for those coming to do their taxes
Items to Bring
• Photo identification
• Social security cards for you, your spouse, and dependents
• Birth dates for taxpayers and the dependents on the tax return
• Current year’s tax package, if you received one
• All W-2 wage and tax statements for the current tax year
• All forms 1099 and other income statements- documenting interest-income, Social Security income, withdrawals from IRA’s, 401k’s, etc.
• Any income not reported on a statement
• Form 1098-Mortgage Interest and Property Taxes- if applicable
• A copy of last year’s Federal tax return
• Other relevant documentation (as applicable):
o Total paid for child care and daycare provider’s identification number and contact information
o Total paid for continuing education (tuition, books, supplies, etc) - shown on form 1098-T or 1098-E. Also 1099 form documenting interest paid on a student loan.
o Business-related expenses, such as mileage, office supplies, advertising (if small-business owner or independent contractor)
o Any notices received from the IRS or state tax office
• FOR DIRECT-DEPOSIT: (fastest way to receive a refund- 7-10 business days as compared to 2-4 weeks for paper checks) Bring a voided check and/or savings account and routing numbers for deposit of refund. NOTE: You can opt to split your refund into up to three different accounts. If you desire to do so, please bring account and routing numbers for all accounts.
• SAVINGS BONDS: Taxpayers now have the option to purchase U.S Series I savings bonds with a portion of their tax refund. Bonds can be purchased in increments of $50 in the taxpayer’s name or in the name of a designated beneficiary. Taxpayers can have the remainder of their refund either direct-deposited into a bank account (must bring account and routing number) or opt to receive it in a paper check.