Catholic Charities helping to prepare income tax forms

By MAUREEN MCGUINNESS- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

It's a taxing time of year for some Catholic Charities volunteers.

They are preparing income tax returns for people who ordinarily could not afford to have their taxes professionally prepared. The volunteers are participating in the Internal Revenue Service's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA). It is the second year Catholic Charities has been involved in the effort.

After being trained by the IRS, the volunteers prepare basic income tax returns free of charge for individuals of low to moderate income, individuals with disabilities, non-English speaking taxpayers and the elderly. The returns are completed on a computer and electronically transferred to the IRS, a method which results in faster refunds.

Giving time

Mike Plowinske, a parishioner of St. Francis de Sales Church in Troy who is one of the volunteers, was attracted to the program because it provided a chance to do volunteer work without requiring a lengthy time commitment.

"I encourage people to volunteer," he said, "whatever their interest is. This is not a long commitment, and it's easy to get into," thanks to the IRS training.

Volunteers need not worry about getting in over their head, he added. For more complicated returns, taxpayers are referred to someone who can provide more expertise.

Charities

According to Maureen Toohey, executive assistant at Catholic Charities, the agency got involved in the program last year as a way to help more people claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Available to individuals with low or moderate incomes, the EITC can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

"Last year, one participant got $4,000 back," Ms. Toohey said. "The Earned Income Tax Credit allows people to play catch-up."

While some might find the pairing of the IRS and Catholic Charities to be a bit unusual, Ms. Toohey noted that VITA is geared toward lower-income people, a population served by Catholic Charities. "We felt it was a part of our mission," she said.

In addition, the VITA program is also geared to Catholic Charities employees, who often fall within the income ranges to qualify for an Earned Income Tax Credit.

Rewards

For volunteers like Mr. Plowinske, participating in the program has been rewarding. He is pleased to be able to help Catholic Charities employees who don't make a lot of money for the important work they do. He has also enjoyed meeting the people he is preparing tax returns for.

"This year, there has been a terrific response," he said. "The people are very happy with their returns. It's been a big relief for them."

(For more information on the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, call Catholic Charities at 453-6650. Those interested in having their taxes prepared must call for an appointment.)

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