Free tax prep in Salinas
Free tax preparation services will be available this month in
Salinas for low-income individuals, seniors and other eligible
taxpayers.
Free tax prep in Salinas
Free tax preparation services will be available this month in Salinas for low-income individuals, seniors and other eligible taxpayers.
The Internal Revenue Service is promoting the federal tax credit for low-wage taxpayers at the Salinas Taxpayer Assistance Center on Saturday, Feb. 7 and 21.
The credit was created in 1975 in part to offset the burden of Social Security taxes and to serve as a work incentive. The amount of credit varies, and is generally determined by income and family size. More than 73,000 Central Coast region residents received nearly $136 million in earned income tax credit during 2007.
“This important credit helps make the lives of people a little easier,” said IRS spokesman Jesse Weller. “[It] means a larger refund that could come in as few as 10 days of e-filing your federal tax return.”
More people may be eligible for the tax credit this year because their income declined last year, according to the IRS. For the 2008 tax year, the maximum credit is $4,824 for a family with two or more children. Taxpayers with incomes of $41,646 or less may be eligible to claim the credit, depending on their filing status.
Those eligible for the tax credit can file for free through the Web site www.irs.gov if they wish to prepare their own returns. The site features an interactive tool that helps determine who qualifies for the credit and estimates the amount of the credit.
The Salinas Taxpayer Assistance Center, located at 55 Plaza Circle, is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Saturday, Feb. 7 and 21 will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 831-771-1231.
