CADC offering free tax-preparation services in local communities
Local residents in the Tri-Lakes
Edition coverage area can receive help at tax time from the Central Arkansas Development Council, which is offering free taxpreparation assistance at the following locations.
• The Benton Senior Wellness and Activity Center, 210 Jefferson Drive, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, with walk-ins welcome;
• The Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library, 1800 Smithers Drive in Benton, by appointment — call (501) 326-6203;
• The Ben Elrod Center at Ouachita Baptist University, 228 N. Sixth St. in Arkadelphia, by appointment — call (870) 867-0151;
• The Hot Spring County Library, 202 E. Third St. in Malvern, by appointment — call (501) 332-5441;
• The Mount Ida Senior Center, 158 Senior Drive in Mount Ida, by appointment — call (870) 867-0151; and
• The Glenwood Senior Activity Center, 229 Betty St. in Glenwood, by appointment — call (870) 867-0151.
People making less than $54,000 per year may also self-prepare their taxes at myfreetaxes.com.
CADC helps individuals qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, a refundable federal credit available to low- to moderate-income working families.
IRS- certified volunteer tax preparers work one on one with taxpayers to ensure that they receive the tax credits for which they qualify. Sites also provide information on financial education; MyRA, a federal retirement savings program; and U.S. Savings Bonds. Customers can split refunds into multiple accounts, or if they don’t hold a bank account, can receive their refund on a debit card. Just as with paid tax sites, customers who use the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) tax service will receive federal refunds in seven to 10 days and state refunds sooner.
“Married workers who earned less than $54,000 in 2016 may qualify for the EITC,” said Susan Wills, VITA tax specialist for the Central Arkansas Development Council. “And single workers not raising children who earned less than $15,000 might also qualify for a smaller EIC,” she added. “But you must file a federal income-tax return to claim the federal credit — even if you don’t earn enough to owe any federal income taxes.”
People utilizing the sites should bring their family’s Social Security cards, a picture ID, W-2/1099s, insurance information, a copy of last year’s return, bank-account information for direct deposit or splitting a refund to several accounts, and any other pertinent information.
For more information, call the Central Arkansas Development Council at (501)-778-1133.