New Additions to Brookings.edu

For individuals and OBB sites looking for information on the Earned Income Tax Credit, also known as EITC, Brookings.edu has updated their website and now includes an interactive map, which gives lots of information on the EITC over the past 10 years. The interactive map will allow you to view and create reports on how the EITC has specifically affected your area. It also features pertinent information on the EITC and is a good way to inform yourself, which will allow you to inform your clients and spread the word on the EITC. It is a great training tool for sites that will be embarking on their first tax season this year, and sites ready to take their skills and knowledge to the next level as well. You can create accounts and save material to refer to whenever you need. Not to mention this will help you with your tax lingo and answer many questions you may have.

Tax Help ‘en Español’

Benefit Bank tax sites: Are you helping Spanish speaking clients file tax returns?  Here are some resources for you, straight from the IRS.

Tax information can be tough to understand in any language, but it can be even more difficult if it is not in your first language. The IRS offers a wide range of free and easy-to-use products and services for Spanish speaking taxpayers. Here are nine ways you can get help from the IRS if you need assistance with your federal taxes in Spanish:

1. Get answers 24 hours a day seven days a week http://irs.gov/espanol has a wealth of information accessible all day, every day for individuals and businesses. You will find links to tax-related information, disaster relief, identity theft and warnings about common tax scams that victimize taxpayers. You can also check the status of your tax refund through the online tool ¿Dónde está mi reembolso? and even find out if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, a refundable tax credit for many people who earned less than $48,000, using the Asistente EITC on our secure website.
2. Get up-to-date at the Multimedia Center Watch YouTube video tax tips and listen to audio podcasts on various IRS topics in Spanish and English by entering the keywords “Centro Multimediático” into the search box of the IRS website.
3. TeleTax is a toll-free, automated telephone service. TeleTax provides helpful pre-recorded tax topic messages and refund information. You can find a list more than 125 TeleTax topics, available in Spanish and English, in the instructions for Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ. TeleTax can also help if at least four weeks have passed since you filed your return and you want to check on the status of your federal refund. Having a copy of your return handy will help you respond to the prompts on the automated system. TeleTax is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-829-4477.
4. Get tax forms and publications You can view and download several tax forms and publications in Spanish directly from http://irs.gov/espanol at any hour of the day or night.
5. Visit the IRS Spanish Newsroom Find the agency’s most recent announcements, tips and information on recently implemented tax law that could affect you. Avoid missing any benefits and keep up to date by typing the keywords “Noticias en Espanol” into the search box of the IRS website.
6. Toll-Free Telephone Assistance is available from Spanish-speaking IRS representatives by calling the IRS customer service line at 800-829-1040 and then pressing 8.

Links:

• El IRS en Espanol

Publication 1SP, Derechos del Contribuyente (Your Rights as a Taxpayer) (PDF 26K)

Tax training changes

The following changes have been made to tax training dates across the region.  You can always access up to date trainings in the calendar on the right side of the blog, or you can view this document.

Knox County : January 24th (Opportunity Knox)
Morrow County: January 13th (Morrow County JFS)
Madison/Union County: January 7th (Madison County JFS)

Capacity Building Grants Now Available

The Ohio Benefit Bank in partnership with the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives is pleased to announce the availability of Free Tax Assistance Capacity Building Grants for this coming tax season.

The instructions/application information as well as the budget worksheet can be downloaded at: www.oashf.org/ohiobenefitbank.html

Below is a summary of the grant opportunity:

1. Organizations must agree to use The Ohio Benefit Bank to help Ohioans file their taxes free of charge or assist Ohioans in completing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

2. Maximum grant awards are $12,500 for existing Ohio Benefit Bank sites and $3,000 for organizations looking to start a new Ohio Benefit Bank site.

3. All grant applications are due by November 29, 2010 at 4 PM (EST).

Question may be directed to Joree Jacobs at the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks at jjacobs@oashf.org.