Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

Why pay to have someone do your taxes when CTI will do them for free? VITA is offered to low-income individuals, and families who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Appointments are scheduled on Wednesday nights (Feb 6 through April 10, 5pm-8pm) and Saturday mornings (Feb 2 through April 13, 9am-12Noon) during tax season. We are located at 17 Kirk Street, 1st Floor, Lowell and available by APPOINTMENT ONLY. We will start scheduling appointments on Monday, January 14th, 2019. Please call to learn more: 978.654.5725 or 978.654.5673.

If your household annual income is $55,000 or less you may qualify for EITC & CTC (depending on your household size and if you have qualified dependents) you can take advantage of our VITA Tax Preparation Program – Completely FREE!   

 ** We CANNOT prepare returns for the following **  

• Cancellation of Debt due to foreclosure or insolvency
• Foreign students
• Business income
• Military income
• Capital gain or loss
• International income
• Rental real estate income
• Stocks, dividends or bonds
• Puerto Rico or US Territory

What is VITA?

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people who generally make $55,000 or less, persons with disabilities and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.

What is EITC?

The United States federal earned income tax credit or earned income credit (EITC or EIC) is a refundable tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and couples, particularly those with children. The amount of EITC benefit depends on a recipient’s income and number of children.

What is CTC?

Beginning with Tax Year 2018, you may able to claim the Child Tax Credit if you have a qualifying child under the age of 17 and meet other qualifications. The maximum amount per qualifying child is $2,000. Up to $1,400 of the credit can be refundable for each qualifying child as the Additional Child Tax Credit. A refundable tax credit may give you a refund even if you don’t owe any tax. Your qualifying child must have a Social Security Number issued by the Social Security Administration before the due date of your tax return (including extensions) to be claimed as a qualifying child for the Child Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit.

VITA Tax Flyer – 2019 Schedule for 2018 Tax Season

Tax Document Checklist for Appointment

MASSCAP PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES- FY19 Top Budget Priorities

MASSCAP Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) Site – Business Fact Sheet

MASSCAP Volunteer Tax Assistance Program (VITA) – Fact Sheet Overview

 

C.T.I Employees can come by drop off copies of all their tax documents & fill out the Intake form, once they are all done and reviewed, they will be called to come in sign & pick up a copy of their tax returns

Starting this Monday February 4th, Sandra Cruz, Financial Literacy Coordinator, will be working

Tuesdays 11-7 (drop off between 11-6)

Wednesdays 12-8 (drop off between 12-4:30)

Thursdays & Fridays 8:30-4:30 (drop off any time until 4)

Saturdays 9-12 (drop off any time until 11:30) – Please mention you are a CTI employee dropping off paperwork and ask for Sandra Diaz

ALERT

Identified Issue
The Internal Revenue Service is aware of a new scheme where criminals, after stealing client data from tax professionals, are filing fraudulent tax returns which include the taxpayers’ real bank accounts for the refund deposits. The fraudulent refunds are deposited into the real taxpayers’ accounts. The criminal subsequently contacts the taxpayers requesting/demanding the funds be returned and instructs the taxpayers how to return the funds. The taxpayers who follow these instructions are sending the money to the actual criminal and not the IRS.
Required Corrective Actions
Taxpayers should be alert to any unusual activity such as receiving a tax refund they did not request.
Taxpayers who receive a direct deposit refund that they did not request (or did not file a tax return for) should take the following steps:
1. Contact the Automated Clearing House (ACH) department of the bank/financial institution where the direct deposit was received and ask the bank or financial institution to return the refund to the IRS.
2. Call the IRS toll-free

LEARN MORE – Archives

EITC Client Flyer – Important Announcement: 2016 Refund Delay Notice UPDATE COMING SOON

VITA and ETIC Resources

http://www.eitcoutreach.org/blog/five-ways-to-promote-the-eitc-for-awareness-day/  (nice video in English and Spanish on EITC)

IRS EITC Awareness Toolkit

https://www.eitc.irs.gov/partner-toolkit/eitc-awareness-day/eitc-awareness-day-2

Prosperity Now EITC Awareness Toolkit

https://prosperitynow.org/resources/2018-eitc-awareness-day-toolkit

Tax Credits for Working Families

http://www.taxcreditsforworkersandfamilies.org/resources/

Listen to Chris Santos-Gordon, Director of the Financial Education Center  discuss on WCAP980 radio the opportunities available at the Financial Education Center at Community Teamwork 2/6/18

Important Announcement for Taxpayers who file for the Earned Income Credit 2016

“The IRS reminds taxpayers that a new law requires the IRS to hold refunds claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until Feb. 15. In addition, the IRS wants taxpayers to be aware it will take several days for these refunds to be released and processed through financial institutions. Factoring in weekends and the President’s Day holiday, the IRS cautions that many affected taxpayers may not have actual access to their refunds until the week of Feb. 27.”

This means that wherever you have your tax return prepared, either with Community Teamwork or a private preparer, the same federal rule applies.  The IRS will hold all EITC refunds until Feb. 15^th no matter where they originated from.

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