VENTURA COUNTY — Low- to moderate-income workers who had a household income of $52,000 or less in 2013 can receive free tax preparation and income tax filing at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site located throughout Ventura County, the United Way of Ventura County reported in a media release.
Tax returns are filed electronically by IRS-trained volunteers. The Ventura County Financial Empowerment Partnership seeks to increase the number of individuals and families who receive no-cost tax preparation assistance and who access the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program — the nation’s largest and most powerful federal aid program for the working poor.
“The EITC can boost a family’s income, but the rules are somewhat complicated and so not everyone who applies for it will receive it,” Susan Englund, United Way’s vice president of Community Impact, stated in the release.
Through April 12, trained volunteer tax preparers will prepare federal and state tax returns at sites at El Concilio in Oxnard, Housing Authorities of Ventura and Oxnard, Catholic Charities in Moorpark, SurePath Financial Solutions in Camarillo, Santa Clara Valley Neighborhood for Learning in Santa Paula, Many Mansions in Thousand Oaks and at the Job & Career Centers in West Oxnard, Ventura and Simi Valley. The public is asked to call 2-1-1 to schedule an appointment first before stopping by any of the 10 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance locations throughout Ventura County. Some of the VITA locations do not accept walk-ins.
Tax filers must bring a Social Security card or an ITIN for each family member, W-2 forms for all jobs worked in 2013, all 1099 forms for other income earned, photo identification for each adult filing, childcare provider information, and a cancelled check for direct deposit of refund.
Bringing a prior year tax return is helpful.
Back again this year is an online strategy available for individuals who prefer to file their own income tax returns using http://www.myfreetaxes.com/VenturaCounty. This is an easy-to-use, interview-based software that allows eligible taxpayers to prepare and file for free their federal and state taxes online. The target population for this program is single filers with W2 income only, who are computer savvy and possess an email address.
Last year (from February through April) a total of 52 volunteers prepared 1,586 tax returns at nine Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites located throughout Ventura County. A mobile team strategy was also utilized to reach communities with limited access to the nine permanent sites. The number of returns prepared in 2013 represented a 32 percent increase over the prior year. The total amount of tax refunds to clients last year was $2,282,958.
Ventura County Financial Empowerment Partnership members include United Way of Ventura County, the Business and Employment Services Department of the County of Ventura’s Human Services Agency, Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation and the IRS.
SANTA BARBARA — The United Way of Santa Barbara County’s Financial Empowerment Partnership will host a “Mega Tax Day” & Financial Literacy Resource Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 at the United Way of Santa Barbara County, 320 E. Gutierrez St., Santa Barbara. The event will help Santa Barbara County families gain access to free tax assistance, affordable banking products and financial literacy classes, officials reported in a media release. Trained, experienced, IRS-certified volunteers will provide free income tax return preparation and E-Filing for those with 2013 incomes under $58,000. United Way’s Mega Tax Day also offers a variety of resources on how to plan and save for emergencies, college and retirement. Participating organizations and businesses will be giving out prizes for visiting financial literacy tables. During the 2013 tax season, United Way of Santa Barbara County’s Financial Empowerment Partnership prepared about 2,700 returns that produced $4.7 million in refunds for local residents.
Taxes will be prepared on a first-come, first-served basis and limited by the number of volunteers available.
Bring Social Security card or ITIN no., W-2 forms, 1099 (if applicable), documents on all forms of income, childcare provider information (name, address, tax number), picture I.D. and bank routing/account number for direct deposit of refund.
For more information about Mega Tax Day, visit http://www.unitedwaysb.org/news/mega-tax-day
For more information about the local VITA program, visit http://www.unitedwaysb.org/vita
OXNARD — A free income tax preparation and family resource fair will be presented from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Oxnard College Library Learning Resource Center, 4000 So. Rose Ave., Oxnard.
The event features free tax preparation assistance for households with incomes of $51,567 or less, low-cost and free medical services, job preparation assistance, food and nutrition services, discount telephone services, low-cost auto insurance, financial literacy training, health screenings (glucose, blood pressure, body mass index), farm worker safety information and Covered California outreach/education.
Language assistance in English, Spanish and Chinese will be available.
To schedule a tax preparation appointment, call 1-866-910-9559 or sign up at http://bit.ly/VITA-2014.
The event is presented by the State Board of Equalization in collaboration with Rep. Julia Brownley, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, Assemblymembers Jeff Gorell and Das Williams, Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales, the City of Oxnard, the City of Port Hueneme and the City of Moorpark.
Call 1-866-910-9559 for more information.
SANTA MARIA — The Allan Hancock College dance program is seeking dancers for its annual Folklorico! Concert. Auditions for the concert will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 in the Santa Maria campus dance studio, building D, room D-118. Auditions are open to the public. Folklorico has been taught at Allan Hancock College for many years as part of the dance program. Folkloric dance celebrates the rich, vibrant culture of Mexico’s various regions.
For more information about the auditions, the class or the concert, contact Dianne McMahon at 805-922-6966, ext. 3411 or send an email to dmcmahon@hancockcollege.edu