Local groups offering free help with tax returns

Filling out a tax return may sound about as much fun as visiting a dentist.

Yet, it's a financially rewarding task for many, including low-income workers who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Taxpayers with simple tax returns can keep a larger portion of their refund by getting free tax preparation services from volunteer groups, which kicked off their tax help programs on Friday.

Those community organizations obtain software and training from the Internal Revenue Service.

One of those groups, United Way, said it helped 4,500 Southern Nevada families claim $5 million in tax refunds last year.

"United Way is assisting local families and individuals get the most from their 2009 tax returns," state Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, said in a statement. Horsford is spokesman for United Way's Earn It Keep It Save It program.

Most volunteers encourage taxpayers to file returns electronically, rather than mailing paper documents. Also, the tax preparers recommend individuals direct the IRS to pay refunds directly to bank accounts, IRS spokesman Raphael Tulino said.

"You get your refund in way less time as compared to a paper return," Tulino said.

The average individual taxpayer received a $2,859 refund last year. Low-income workers who owe little or no taxes may receive the Earned Income Tax Credit. However, workers must file tax returns in order to get money back from the tax credit program, Tulino said.

Last year, 182,000 of Nevada's 1.3 million individual taxpayers received EITC payments totaling $354 million. The numbers should be bigger this year, because Congress raised the maximum amount allowed to qualify for EITC.

A family with more than $41,646 in income last year didn't qualify for the tax credit, but the maximum jumps to $48,279 this year.

"Today, more than ever, hard-working individuals and families can use a little extra help," IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said in a statement. "EITC can make the lives of working people a little easier."

The credit usually is more than $2,000, according to the IRS. The maximum is $5,657 for families with three or more children.

The easiest way to apply for the tax credit is to enlist help from groups providing free tax preparation.

These volunteers typically help taxpayers with simple returns and incomes of less than $49,000, according to the Internal Revenue Service. However, many of the groups are flexible on those guidelines.

Here's a partial list of groups offering tax preparation help:

•Boys & Girls Club of Las Vegas, 2850 S. Lindell Road; call 932-1880 for appointments.

•City of Las Vegas, Doolittle Senior Center, 1930 N. J St.; call 229-1125 for an appointment.

•Clark High School, 4291 Pennwood Ave.; walk-ins welcome; call 799-5800, extension 4004.

•Community Services of Nevada, 3320 Sunrise Ave.; call 307-1710 for appointments.

•Goodwill of Southern Nevada, 1280 W. Cheyenne Ave.; call 214-2056 for appointments.

•HopeLink Family Resource Center, 178 Westminster Way, Henderson; call for 566-0576 for appointments.

•Latin Chamber of Commerce, 300 N. 13th St.; no appointment necessary; call 385-7367.

•Nevada Partners, 710 W. Lake Mead Blvd., North Las Vegas; walk-ins welcome; call 924-2100.

•United Labor Agency of Nevada, 1201 N. Decatur Blvd., Suite 106; call 648-3500 for appointments.

•United Way, various sites; go to nevada211.org on the Internet or call 211.

•University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, student union; call 895-5665.

•Urban League PLUS, 1024 W. Owens Ave.; call 483-4200 for appointments.

•Victory Missionary Baptist Church, 500 W. Monroe Ave.; call 648-2286 for appointments.

Contact reporter John G. Edwards at jedwards@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0420.